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How  Sir  Turquine  bare  Sir  Ector  clean  out  of  his  Saddle. 


THE 


BOY'S  KING  ARTHUR 


SIR  THOMAS  MALORVS  HISTORY 


King  Arthur  and  his  Knights  *f  th* 
Round  Table 


EDITED  FOR  BOYS   WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION 


SIDNEY   LANIER 

•OTTO*  or  "THB  BOY'S  ntotstAJtr1 


Illustrated  by  Alfred  Kafflc* 


NEW  YORK 

CHARLES    SCRIBNER'S    SONS 
1911 


COPYRIGHT,  1880, 
CHARLES  SCRIBNER'S  SONS. 

COPYRIGHT,  1908, 
BY  MARY  DAY  LANIER. 


X 


INTRODUCTION. 


WILL  the  time  come  when  Hamlet  will  be  a  boy's  tale  ? 

Since  the  young  readers  of  King  Arthur  —  and  theii 
young  readers  after  them  —  are  of  all  persons  in  the  world 
the  very  oracles  who  must  one  day  answer  this  question  ; 
and  since  its  curious  face  will  be  thrusting  itself  upon  us 
from  all  manner  of  odd  corners  as  we  now  go  on  to  trace 
the  rise  and  spread  of  the  stories  which  Sir  Thomas 
Malory  used  in  making  this  beautiful  old  book  :  I  wished 
to  state  it  at  the  beginning,  so  that  it  might  at  once  widen 
and  intensify  our  thoughts  as  we  look  upon  those  changes 
in  language,  in  life,  in  the  general  stature  of  man's  spirit, 
whereby  the  great  cycle  of  Arthurian  romances  which  en- 
chanted the  grown  men  of  all  Europe  during  the  middle 
ages  finds  itself  arrived,  in  the  nineteenth  century,  at  the 
form  of  this  present  Boys  King  Arthur. 

About  the  time  when  Englishmen  first  began  to  hear 
the  name  "  Plantagenet,"  from  the  planta  genista  or  wild 
broom  of  Anjou  which  Henry  II.'s  father  liked  to  wear  by 
way  of  a  plume  ;  when  Thomas  a  Becket  was  beginning 
that  bright  friendship  with  this  same  King  Henry  II. 
which  presently  darkened  into  their  desperate  struggle; 
when  a  stranger  was  allowed  to  stop  over  in  an  English 
borough  but  one  night  unless  he  could  fetch  good  and 
sufficient  security  against  bad  behavior  ;  when,  although  a 

it 


Iv  Introduction. 


criminal  could  clear  himself  of  his  accusation  by  holding 
hot  iron  in  his  hand  or  by  sinking  when  cast  into  water, 
nevertheless  those  bodies  of  men  which  have  since  become 
what  we  call  the  "jury"  —  the  most  admirable  provision 
ever  made  by  our  race  for  perfect  reason  and  pure  justice 
between  man  and  man  —  were  taking  form :  in  such  a  time, 
which  we  may  roughly  centre  at  the  middle  of  the  twelfth 
century,  the  name  of  King  Arthur  first  appeared  in  Eng- 
lish literature.  For  it  was  then  that  a  certain  Geoffrey 
of  Monmouth  put  forth  his  Latin  Historia  Britonum,  — 
"  History  of  the  Britons,"  —  in  which  for  the  first  time 
the  story  of  Arthur  as  an  ancient  British  king  was  fairly 
set  before  the  world. 

Geoffrey  told  it  for  true,  —  not  as  a  mere  fiction.  Here 
is  his  account  of  the  way  he  happened  to  know  it,  and  of 
his  reason  for  publishing  it  as  matter  belonging  to  the  real 
history  of  the  Britons.  This  is  a  translation  of  part  of 
his  first  chapter. 

"  Whilst  occupied  on  many  and  various  studies,  I  hap- 
pened to  light  upon  the  History  of  the  Kings  of  Britain, 
and  wondered  that  in  the  account  which  Gildas  and  Bede, 
in  their  elegant  treatises,  had  given  of  them,  I  found 
nothing  said  of  those  kings  who  lived  here  before  Christ, 
nor  of  Arthur,  and  many  others  who  succeeded  after 
Christ;  though  their  actions  both  deserved  immortal 
fame,  and  were  also  celebrated  by  many  people  in  a  pleas- 
ant manner,  and  by  heart,  as  if  they  had  been  written. 
Whilst  I  was  intent  upon  these  and  such  like  thoughts, 
Walter,  Archdeacon  of  Oxford"  —  whom  we  suppose  to 
be  the  Walter  Map  presently  figuring  in  this  account  — 
"  a  man  of  great  eloquence,  and  learned  in  foreign  histo- 
ries, offered  me  a  very  ancient  book  in  the  British  tongue  " 
—  Geoffrey's  "British"  here  means  ou-  Welsh  —  "which, 


Introduction. 


in  a  continued  regular  story  and  elegant  style,  related  the 
actions  of  them  all,  from  Brutus  the  first  king  of  the 
Britons  down  to  Cadwallader  the  son  of  Cadwallo.  At 
his  request,  therefore,  though  I  had  not  made  fine  lan- 
guage my  study,  by  collecting  florid  expressions  from 
other  authors,  yet  contented  with  my  own  homely  style 
I  undertook  the  translation  of  that  book  into  Latin." 

It  must  be  confessed  that  our  historian's  ideas  of  proba- 
bility seem  very  unsatisfactory  to  the  modern  view  of 
historic  dignity.  Perhaps  no  more  striking  proof  could 
be  given  of  the  enormous  growth  in  men's  conscience  and 
reasonableness  since  that  time  than  by  the  following 
couple  of  stories  which  I  have  taken  out  of  Geoffrey's 
"History,"  the  one  purporting  to  be  a  true  account  of 
the  way  in  which  the  island  of  Britain  was  first  peopled 
and  named,  the  other  setting  forth  the  strange  advent 
of  Merlin  as  prophet  and  counsellor  to  the  British  kings. 

After  relating  how  ^Eneas  settled  in  Italy  at  the  close 
of  the  Trojan  war,  Geoffrey  treats  of  his  descendants 
there,  and  presently  comes  to  one  Brutus,  the  great-grand- 
son of  ^Eneas,  who  is  afterwards  the  founder  of  the  British 
race.  This  Brutus,  having  by  accident  slain  his  own 
father  with  an  arrow  while  hunting,  is  banished  by  his 
kinsmen  for  the  dreadful  deed.  He  wanders  forth  over 
the  earth,  falls  into  wondrous  adventures,  fights  battles, 
and  does  noble  deeds,  until  he  is  finally  told  by  the  god- 
dess Diana  that  there  is  an  island  in  the  Western  Sea 
upon  which  he  is  to  found  a  great  empire. 

He  goes  in  search,  and,  after  other  tremendous  wan 
and  victories  in  which  he  amasses  great  spoils,  he  and  his 
mighty  lieutenant  Corineus,  with  a  company  which  he  has 
gathered  in  his  wanderings,  arrive  on  the  coast  of  Eng- 
land. The  details  of  these  matters  occupy  fourteen 


vl  Introduction. 


chapters  after  chapter  first,  already  quoted :  and  here,  in 
chapter  sixteen,  we  have  the  terrible  fight  ol  Corineus 
with  the  aboriginal  giant,  and  the  founding  of  Britain. 

"  The  island  was  then  called  Albion,  and  was  inhabited 
by  none  but  a  few  giants."  Fixing  their  habitation,  they 
begin  to  till  the  ground ;  and  "  Brutus  called  the  island 
after  his  name  Britain,1  and  his  companions  Britons." 
But  Corineus  begins  to  languish  for  some  fun :  "  For  it 
was  a  diversion  to  him  to  encounter  the  said  giants,  which 
were  in  greater  numbers  "  in  his  province  "  than  in  all  the 
other  provinces  that  fell  to  the  share  of  his  companions. 
Among  the  rest  was  one  detestable  monster  named  Goe- 
magot,  in  stature  twelve  cubits,  and  of  such  prodigious 
strength  that  at  one  shake  he  pulled  up  an  oak  as  if  it  had 
been  a  hazel  wand.  On  a  certain  day,  when  Brutus  was 
holding  a  solemn  festival  to  the  gods  .  .  .  this  giant  with 
twenty  more  of  his  companions  came  in  upon  the  Britons, 
among  whom  he  made  a  dreadful  slaughter.  But  the 
Britons,  at  last  assembling  together  in  a  body,  put  them 
to  the  rout,  and  killed  them  every  one  but  Goemagot. 
Brutus  had  given  orders  to  have  him  preserved  alive,  out 
of  a  desire  to  see  a  combat  between  him  and  Corineus.  .  .  . 
Corineus,  overjoyed  at  this,  prepared  himself,  and,  throw- 
ing aside  his  arms,  challenged  him  to  wrestle  with  him, 
At  the  beginning  of  the  encounter,  Corineus  and  the  giant, 
standing  front  to  front,  held  each  other  strongly  in  their 
arms,  and  panted  aloud  for  breath ;  but  Goemagot  pres- 
ently, grasping  Corineus  with  all  his  might,  broke  three  of 
his  ribs.  ...  At  which  Corineus,  highly  enraged,  roused  up 

1  The  first  «  in  "  Brutus  "  sounded  like  the  modern  French  u  in  Geoffrey's 
time.  This  in  rapid  conversation  is  not  widely  different  from  the  short  /  of 
Brit-ain.  The  derivation  was  therefore  at  any  rate  not  an  improbable  one,  in 
point  of  sound,  to  Geoffrey's  readers. 


Introduction.  vil 


his  whole  strength,  and,  snatching  him  upon  his  shoulders, 
ran  with  him  as  fast  as  the  weight  would  allow  him  to  the 
nearest  part  of  the  sea-shore,  and  there,  getting  upon  the 
top  of  a  high  rock,  hurled  down  the  savage  monster  into 
the  sea;  where,  falling  upon  the  sides  of  craggy  rocks, 
he  was  torn  to  pieces,  and  colored  the  waves  with  his 
blood.  The  place  where  he  fell ...  is  called  Lam  Goe 
magot,  that  is  Goemagot's  Leap,  to  this  day." 

And  here,  in  the  last  chapters  of  Geoffrey's  sixth  book, 
we  have  the  mystic  appearance  of  Merlin.  Vortigern, 
king  of  Britain,  after  the  slaughter  of  his  whole  princely 
following  through  the  treachery  of  Hengist  and  the  wast- 
ing of  his  countries  by  that  warrior,  retires  desolate  into 
Cambria,  —  the  modern  "  Wales,"  —  and  for  some  time 
is  at  a  loss  how  to  act. 

"  At  last  he  had  recourse  to  magicians,  and  commanded 
them  to  tell  him  what  course  to  take.  They  advised  him 
to  build  a  very  strong  tower  for  his  own  safety,  since  he 
had  lost  all  his  other  fortified  places.  Accordingly  he 
.  .  .  assembled  workmen  from  several  countries,  and 
ordered  them  to  build  the  tower.  The  builders  therefore 
began  to  lay  the  foundation ;  but  whatever  they  did  one 
day,  the  earth  swallowed  up  the  next,  so  as  to  leave  no 
appearance  of  their  work.  Vortigern,  being  informed  of 
this,  again  consulted  with  his  magicians  concerning  the 
cause  of  it,  who  told  him  that  he  must  find  out  a  youth 
that  never  had  a  father,  and  kill  him,  and  then  sprinkle 
the  stone  and  cement  with  his  blood ;  for  by  those  means, 
they  said,  he  would  have  a  firm  foundation.  Hereupon 
messengers  were  despatched  over  all  the  provinces  to  in- 
quire out  such  a  man.  In  their  travels  they  came  to  a 
city  .  .  .  where  they  saw  some  young  men  playing  before 
the  gate,  and  went  up  to  them;  but,  being  weary  with 


viii  Introduction. 


their  journey,  they  sat  down.  .  .  .  Towards  evening  there 
happened  on  a  sudden  a  quarrel  between  two  of  the  youn£ 
men,  whose  names  were  Merlin  and  DabuHus.  In  the 
dispute  Dabutius  said  to  Merlin :  '  You  fool,  do  you  pre- 
sume to  quarrel  with  me  ?  ...  I  am  descended  of  royal 
race  both  by  my  father's  and  mother's  side.  As  for  you, 
nobody  knows  what  you  are,  for  you  never  had  a  father/ 
At  that  word  the  messengers  looked  earnestly  upon  Mer- 
lin, and  asked  the  by-standers  who  he  was.  They  told 
them  it  was  not  known  who  was  his  father ;  but  that  his 
mother  was  daughter  to  the  king  of  Dimetia,  and  that  she 
lived  in  St.  Peter's  Church  among  the  nuns  of  that  city. 
Upon  this  the  messengers  hastened  to  the  governor  of  the 
city,  and  ordered  him  in  the  king's  name  to  send  Merlin 
and  his  mother  to  the  king." 

The  king  having  received  them,  and  having  made  nu- 
merous inquiries  which  were  satisfactorily  answered, 

"  Merlin  then  approached  the  king  and  said  to  him, '  For 
what  reason  am  I  and  my  mother  introduced  into  your 
presence?'  'My  magicians,'  answered  Vortigern,  'advised 
me  to  seek  out  a  man  who  had  no  father,  with  whose  blood 
my  building  is  to  be  sprinkled  in  order  to  make  it  stand.' 
'  Order  your  magicians,'  said  Merlin,  '  to  come  before  me, 
and  I  will  convict  them  of  a  lie.'  The  king  was  surprised 
at  his  words,  and  presently  ordered  the  magicians  to  come 
and  sit  down  before  Merlin,  who  spoke  to  them  after  this 
manner :  — 

" '  Because  you  are  ignorant  what  it  is  that  hinders 
the  foundation  of  the  tower,  you  have  recommended  the 
shedding  of  my  blood  for  cement  to  it,  as  if  that  would 
presently  make  it  stand.  But  tell  me  now  what  is  there 
under  the  foundation  ?  For  something  there  is  that  will 
not  suffer  it  to  stand.' 


Introduction. 


"The  magicians  at  this  began  to  be  afraid  and  made 
him  no  answer.  Then  said  Merlin,  who  is  also  called 
Ambrose,  *  I  entreat  your  majesty  would  command  your 
workmen  to  dig  into  the  ground,  and  you  will  find  a 
pond  which  causes  the  foundation  to  sink.1 

"  This  accordingly  was  done,  and  then  presently  they 
found  a  pond  deep  under  ground  which  had  made  it  give 
way.  Merlin  after  this  went  again  to  the  magicians  and 
said, '  Tell  me,  ye  false  sycophants,  what  is  there  under  the 
pond/  But  they  were  silent.  Then  said  he  again  to  the 
king,  *  Command  the  pond  to  be  drained,  and  at  the  bottom 
you  will  see  two  hollow  stones,  and  in  them  two  dragons 
asleep/  The  king  made  no  scruple  of  believing  him,  since 
he  had  found  true  what  he  had  said  of  the  pond,  and  there- 
fore ordered  it  to  be  drained ;  which  done,  he  found  as 
Merlin  had  said ;  and  now  was  possessed  of  the  greatest 
admiration  of  him.  Nor  were  the  rest  that  were  present 
less  amazed  at  his  wisdom,  thinking  it  to  be  no  less  than 
divine  inspiration." 

If  all  Geoffrey's  history  were  of  this  cast,  and  that  of 
the  famous  Prophecy  of  Merlin  which  follows  the  extract 
just  given,  one  could  find  great  comfort  in  a  phrase  of  the 
angry  Hotspur  in  Shakspere's  King  Henry  IV.t  who,  when 
reproached  by  Mortimer  for  his  endless  crossing  and  taunt- 
ing of  the  Welshman  Glendower,  cries,  — 

I  cannot  choose :  sometime  be  angers  me 
With  telling  me  ... 

Of  the  dreamer  Merlin  and  his  prophecies, 
And  of  a  dragon  and  a  finless  fish, 
...  A  couching  lion,  and  a  ramping  cat, 
And  such  a  deal  of  skimble-skamble  stuff 
AM  puts  me  from  my  faith. 


Introduction. 


But  there  are  many  soberer  matrers,  lying  nearer  within 
historic  possibility,  in  Geoffrey's  bcx  k  ;  and  its  rich  stores 
have  often  furnished  groundwork  for  later  English  think- 
ers, as,  for  instance,  its  account  of  Leir,  an  early  king  of 
England,  which  has  been  transformed  into  Shakspere's 
terrible  play  of  King  Lear. 

Before  leaving  Geoffrey  it  is  worth  while  mentioning,  as 
explanatory  of  several  English  names  which  occur  in  the 
following  work,  that  according  to  him  Brutus  had  three 
sons,  who  upon  their  father's  death  divided  the  kingdom 
between  them :  these  were,  Locrin,  who  took  the  middle 
part  of  the  island,  and  thus  gave  it  a  name  often  used  in 
this  book,  "  Loegria,"  or  sometimes  "  Logris ; "  Albanact, 
who  took  the  northern  part,  and  thus  gave  name  to  the 
country  of  Albania,  or  Albany,  now  known  as  Scotland ; 
and  Kamber,  who  took  the  part  beyond  the  Severn,  and 
thus  gave  it  the  name  of  Kambria,  or  Cambria,  now 
known  as  "Wales,"  though  still  often  referred  to  under 
the  other  title. 

Advancing,  now,  to  Walter  Map  (whose  name  is  also 
spelled  "  Mapes  ") :  he  seems  not  to  have  been  content 
that  these  matters  should  remain  in  Geoffrey's  Latin,  for 
we  find  three  long  Arthurian  romances  in  French  which 
are  attributed  to  him.  One  of  these  is  called  La  Queste 
del  Saint  Graal?  and  is  in  a  far  nobler  vein  of  story  than 
Geoffrey's.  I  have  thought  that  many  young  readers 
would  be  glad  to  see  some  of  the  French  of  Maistres 
Gautiers  Map,  and  for  this  purpose  I  have  selected  part  of 


1  The  "  Saint  Graal,"  or  Saint  Grail,  or  Sane  Greal,  or  Sangreal  —  as  it 
has  been  variously  spelled  at  different  times — means  the  holy  (sanct-us,  saint) 
Grail,  or  Cup,  which  was  fabled  to  have  received  some  of  the  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  to  have  been  brought  away,  endowed  with  miraculous  powers,  bj 
Joseph  of  Arimathea,  finally  lodging  in  England. 


Introduction.  xl 


that  most  exquisite  story  —  which  is  also  finely  told  in  the 
present  book  —  of  the  meeting  of  Sir  Percival  and  the 
lion,  and  of  their  friendship.  My  extract  begins  as  Sir 
Percival  has  slain  the  serpent.  "  Quant  li  lyons  se  voit 
delivres  del  serpent  par  1'aide  del  chivaler,  il  ne  fait  pas 
samblant  qu'il  vit  volentee  de  combatre  a  percheval" 
[Percival}  "ains  vient  devant  lui,  et  boisse  sa  teste.  et 
lui  fait  grant  ioie.  si  que  perchevaus  [Percival}  voit  bien 
qu'il  n'a  talent  de  lui  mal  faire,  il  remet  s'espee  el  fuerre, 
et  iete  ius  son  escu,  et  son  hiaume  de  sa  teste  por  le  vent 
requellir.  Car  assis  Tot  escaufe  li  serpens,  et  li  lyons  aloit 
tous  iours  apres  lui,  covetant  et  faisant  grant  ioie.  Et 
quant  il  voit  che,  si  le  commence  a  aplanier  col  et  teste, 
et  dist  que  notres  sires  lui  a  envoie  celle  beste  pour  lui 
faire  compaignie." 

But  perhaps  it  will  be  still  more  interesting  to  see  ex- 
actly what  sort  of  English  was  spoken  in  this  time :  and, 
for  the  purpose  of  showing,  I  wish  to  bring  forward  a 
short  passage  from  an  old  English  poet  who  seems  to  me 
the  most  delightful  boy-that-never-grows-old  in  the  world, 
and  whom  perhaps  one  loves  a  little  more,  because  his 
countrymen  have  as  yet  loved  him  a  great  deal  less, 
than  he  deserves.  His  name  is  Layamon;  and  he  not 
only  began  one  of  the  most  remarkable  revolutions  in 
the  whole  history  of  language,  but  he  was  writing  at  one 
of  the  most  glorious  moments  in  the  history  of  England. 
If  I  mention  the  year  1215,  every  boy's  mind  will  imme- 
diately fly  to  that  famous  day  at  Runnymede  when  the 
barons  forced  the  Great  Charter  from  King  John.  While 
this  Charter,  with  its  deep  declarations  which  seem  to 
have  rendered  English  liberty  indestructible  —  such  as, 
"  To  no  man  will  we  sell,  or  deny,  or  delay,  right  or  jus- 
tice," and  "We  will  not  go  against  any  man  nor  send 


xil  Introduction. 


against  him,  save  by  legal  judgment  of  his  peers  or  by 
the  law  of  the  land" — was  overthrowing  political  tyran- 
ny, Layamon,  in  a  spirit  not  unlike,  was  overthrowing 
a  literary  tyranny.  For  a  hundred  and  fifty  years  — 
since  William  the  Norman  came  over  in  1066  and  im- 
posed his  tongue  upon  England  —  French  had  been  the 
official  language  of  the  country :  if  you  had  a  communi- 
cation for  royalty  it  must  be  in  French,  if  you  had  a  case 
in  court  the  pleadings  must  be  in  French,  and  we  have 
just  seen  how  Walter  Map  writes  his  story  in  French 
while  Geoffrey  writes  his  in  Latin.  No  one  writes  books 
in  English.  At  length,  however,  comes  Layamon,  a 
priest  living  at  Earnley,  on  the  Severn;  with  infinite 
labor  he  toils  about  different  parts  of  England  to  find 
three  books,  one  by  Bseda  ("the  Venerable  Bede"),  one 
by  Wace,  and  one  by  Sts.  Albin  and  Austin.  At  last 
he  gets  them ;  and  whav  u  fine  figure  he  puts  before  us, 
through  these  six  and  a  half  centuries,  when  we  find  him 
saying  of  himself,  "  Layamon  laid  down  these  books,  and 
turned  the  leaves ;  he  gazed  on  them  lovingly ;  may  the 
Lord  be  merciful  to  him ! "  Then  he  plied  his  pen,  and 
presently  he  had  made  a  poem  called  "The  Brut"  (pro- 
nounced Brute,  and  being  so  called  as  a  history  of  Eng- 
land from  the  time  of  Geoffrey's  Brutus,  father  of  the 
Britons),  which  was  so  thoroughly  English  that  in  its 
more  than  thirty  thousand  lines  not  fifty  French  words 
can  be  found. 

But  Layamon  was  far  from  confining  himself  to  his  three 
books.  His  imagination  went  far  outside  of  their  record ; 
and  it  is  just  possible  that  he  had  heard  some  of  those 
popular  legends  about  Arthur  which  appear  to  have  been 
handed  down  from  father  to  son,  and  to  which  Geoffrey 
must  refer  in  the  extract  first  given  from  him,  where  he 


Introduction.  xiil 

says  that  the  deeds  of  the  old  kings  "  were  also  celebrated 
by  many  people  .  .  .  by  heart,  as  if  they  had  been  writ- 
ten." 

Here,  then,  is  the  English  of  Layamon,  which,  though 
fifty  years  later  than  Geoffrey,  is  substantially  the  same  as 
was  spoken  by  the  latter. 

The  passage  gives  us  a  picture  of  King  Arthur  in  one 
of  his  series  of  battles  with  Colgrim,  leader  of  the  Saxons. 
At  first  Arthur's  forces  are  overpowered,  and,  with  that 
cool  judgment  of  the  brave  man  which  you  will  find 
always  held  up  in  the  present  book  as  a  far  higher  test 
and  ideal  of  manfulness  than  mere  hot  fighting  and  dash, 
Arthur  does  not  hesitate  to  take  advantage  of  a  stream, 
and  retreat.  But  in  retreating  he  keeps  his  wits  about 
him,  and  ever  looks  out  for  a  chance  to  strike,  never 
dreaming  of  surrender.  And  so,  presently,  says  Laya- 
mon,— 

Tho  Arthur  that  i-sch,  that  Cckgrim  him  was  so  neh, 
1  Then  Arthur  that    saw,    that    Coif  rim    Aim    was  sa   nigk, 

That  hii  *  weren  beyne  in  on  half   than  watcrc,' 
Thai  they     wer*      both     on  on*  half  (of)  th*  wattr, 

Tho  saide  Arthur  .  .  .  , 

Then  said    Arthur     .  .  .  , 

here  we  have  a  brief  soul-stirring  speech  from  the  king, 
calling  upon  his  men  for  valor,  and  crying  out  that  the 

1  I  give  the  modern  form  of  each  old  word  immediately  under  it,  in  the 
italicized  line,  thus  showing  the  changes  since  Layamon.  The  meaning  can 
be  made  out  from  the  literal  translation  in  italics :  it  must  be  remembered 
that  the  order  of  words  in  a  sentence  was  different  then  from  now.  Signs  of 
this  will  be  seen  along  through  Malory's  book,  though  so  much  later. 

*  "  Hii "  is  pronounced  as  if  written  foe. 

»  "  Watere  "  in  three  syllables,  wat-er-th :  every  final  e  makes  a  syllable 


xlv  Introduction. 


day  of  God  is  come  for  the  Saxons  to  perish  :  and,  with 
the  last  word,  — 

Up  brayd  *  Arthur  his  scald  fora  to  his  breaste, 
Up  stretched    Arthur  his  shield  before        his     breast, 

And  he  gan  to  rese,  so  the  wode  "  wolf 

And  he  'fan  U  rush,  eu  the  furieus    wolf 

Wane  he  cometh     of        holte,  bi-hong  mid  snowe, 
When  he   cometh  (tut)  0f  (the)  forest,  behung    -with 


And  thencheth  to  bite  woch  seap  that  him  liketh. 

And      thtnheth      U  Me     what  sheep    that  him  liketh. 


Swa  the  haeye  wade 

As     the    high      wood 


Thene    wind  wode  weieth  bine  mid  maeine, 
When  (the)  wind  furieusbendeth     it     with 


Flogen  over  the  f  eldes  thrift!  4  thusend  sceldes, 
Flew      ever  the   fields    thirty     theusand  shields, 

&  smiten  a  Colgrimes  cnihtes      that  tha  eorthe  agaen  quehte. 
And   smeU          Colgrimes     knights  (so)  that  the     earth     again     thotk. 

Breken  braden  speren,  brustleden  sceldes, 
Broke       broad      spears,        shivered      shields, 

Feollen  Saexisce  men  folden  to  grunden. 
Fell         Saxen      men  U    ground. 

1  "  Brayd  n  is  an  old  form  of  modern  broad:  Arthur  up-broadens  hii 
shield,  that  is,  extends  it  upward.  The  Scotch,  who  preserve  many  Anglo 
Saxon  forms,  still  say  "  braid  "  for  broad. 

*  "  Wode  "  is  a  word  which  will  be  often  found  in  the  book  you  are  about 
to  read,  spelled  "  wood,"  and  meaning  mad,  "  insane  ;  "  as,  "  like  a  wood  (mad) 
lion."    It  is  used  by  Shakspere  in  A  Midsummer  Nighfs  Dream,  whera 
Demetrius  punningly  says,  "  And  here  am  I,  and  wood  within  this  wood,  "  — 
that  is,  mad  within  this  wood,  —  "  Because  I  cannot  meet  my  Helena." 

'  That  is,  with  power  :  we  still  say,  "  with  might  and  main." 

*  The  last  /  in  "  thritti  "  short  :  as  if  thritty. 


Introduction. 


That  i-sah  Colgrim,  ther  vore  wa  wes  him. 
Thai   taw     Colgrim,     therefore   woe  was  him. 

Colgrim  gon  to  flaenne,  feondliche  swithe, 
Colgrim    'fan  to      flee,        ftend-lihe       fast, 

&    his  hors  hine  bar  mid  haeghere  strengthc 
And  his  horse   him  bore  with      higher         strength 

Over  that  water  deape  and  scelde  him  with  daethc. 
Over   that   water    deep    and  shielded  him  against  death. 

Saxes  gunnen  sinken :  sorge       hem  wes  givede. 
Saxons   oegun  (to)  sink:      sorrow  (to)  them  was    given. 

Arthur  wende  his  speres  ord  and  forstod  heo  them  vord. 
Arthur  turned  his   shear's  point  and  forstoed  them    the     ford. 

Ther  a-druncke  Sexes  fulle  seove  thusend. 
There   drowned     Saxons  full    seven   thousand. 

Swa  doth  the  wilde  crane 

So     doth   the     wild    crane 

Wane  his  fliht  is  a-wemmid  and  him  holdeth  after  havekes  s wif te, 
When   his  flight  is   a-hindered  and  him    holdeth    after      kawhs     swift, 

Houndes  in  than  reode  mid  routhe  him  i-meteth : 
Hounds     in    the     reeds   with  sorrow    him      meet: 

Thanne  is      him  nother  god  no  that  lond  nother  flod, 
Then     is(to)him  neither  good         the    land  n*  the  flood, 

Havekes  him  smiteth,  houndes  him  bitcth, 
Hawks     him      smite,       hounds     him     Use, 

Than  his  the  kineworthe  fogel  adrad  in  eche  side. 
Then    is    the         royal          bird   a-dread  on  eaeh   tide. 

Layamon,  you  observe,  writes  sometimes  in   rhyme,— 
as,— 


xvi  Introduction. 


Havekes  him  smitcth, 
Houndes  him  bifeth, 

or,-~ 

Flogen  over  the  ./*/<&* 
Thritti  thusend  sccldes,— 

the  rhyme  being  between  words  at  the  middle  and  end 
of  the  verse,  as  here  printed ;  and  sometimes  in  what  is 
called  the  Anglo-Saxon  alliterative  metre,  as,  for  instance, 
where  the  three  first  main  syllabks  of  the  line  begin  with 
the  same  letter,  s,  in 

.Saxes  gunnen  jinken :  jorge  hem  wes  givede. 

When  one  is  so  familiar  with  the  sounds  and  spirit  of 
Layamon's  speech  as  to  recite  his  poetry  in  something 
of  his  own  manner,  the  music  of  it  is  far  less  rugged  than 
seems  at  first  sight  possible. 

If  we  now  leave  out  of  sight  the  numerous  writers, 
besides  Wace  and  Layamon  and  Map,  who  sent  forth  all 
manner  of  romances  in  prose  and  verse  growing  out  of 
Geoffrey's  original  stock ;  and,  passing  at  one  step  along 
nearly  three  hundred  years,  if  we  come  to  an  English 
author  who  is  still  re-telling  the  Arthurian  stories,  and 
find  an  English  audience  still  desiring  to  hear  them  re- 
told :  we  cannot  fail  to  be  struck  with  the  hold  which 
Geoffrey's  tales  had  taken  upon  men's  minds. 

This  author  is  our  own  simple,  valorous,  wise,  tender 
Sir  Thomas  Malory,  who  wrote  the  History  of  King 
Arthur  and  his  knights  of  the  Round  Table  found  in  the 
following  pages.  I  regret  that  I  can  give  no  personal 
account  of  one  who  must  have  been  an  interesting  man  : 
so  far  as  I  can  discover,  we  know  absolutely  nothing  of 
him  save  what  is  contained  in  the  following  words,  which 


Introduction.  xvll 


form  the  last  clause  of  the  last  sentence  of  his  work :  .  .  . 
"  for  this  book  was  ended  the  ninth  year  of  the  reign  of 
King  Edward  the  Fourth,  by  Sir  Thomas  Maleore,  knight, 
as  Jesu  help  him  for  His  great  might,  as  he  is  the  servant 
of  Jesu  both  day  and  night"  The  ninth  year  of  the  reign 
of  Edward  IV.  would  be  somewhere  in  1469  or  1470: 
thus,  while  the  Wars  of  the  Roses  were  thundering  about 
England,  while  Edward  and  Warwick  the  king-maker 
were  apparently  shaking  the  world  with  their  desperate 
struggle,  our  Sir  Thomas  Maleore,  knight,  was  sitting 
4own  quietly  day  by  day,  and  poring  over  the  five  great 
French  romances  —  the  Merlin,  the  Tristram,  the  Launce- 
lot,  the  Quest  of  the  Saint  Grail,  and  the  Death  of  Arthur 
—  which  appear  to  have  furnished  the  main  materials  of 
his  book. 

And  our  long  account  now  closes,  in  bringing  Malory 
into  contact  with  another  one  of  the  most  interesting 
Englishmen  who  ever  lived.  This  is  William  Caxton,  the 
first  English  printer.  How  much  on  the  surface  were 
these  noisy  Wars  of  the  Roses,  after  all !  must  we  reflect, 
when  we  remember  that  just  about  the  time  of  the  hide- 
ous battle  of  Barnet,  in  which  Edward  IV.  finally  defeated 
the  king-maker  Warwick,  Caxton  was  bringing  over  the 
first  printing-press  to  England,  and  beginning  to  publish 
poetry,  chronicles,  and  philosophy.  It  was  after  he  had 
been  at  work  for  some  time  that  he  was  asked  why  he  had 
not  printed  the  history  of  King  Arthur.  His  own  account 
of  the  matter  is  not  only  interesting  in  itself,  but  will  fur 
nish  a  fit  close  to  the  specimens  of  older  language  1  have 
been  giving.  It  would  seem  that  after  this  request  he 
began  to  look  about  for  some  suitable  manuscript  on  the 
subject,  and  so  came  —  in  what  way  is  wholly  unknown  — 
to  the  knowledge  of  Malory's  book.  Here  is  the  opening 


xvill  Introduction. 


of  Caxton's  own  prologue,  or  preface,  to  his  edition  of  Sir 
Thomas's  work.1 

"  After  that  I  had  accomplysshed  and  fynysshed  dyvers 
hystoryes,  as  well  of  contemplacyon  as  of  other  hystoryal 
and  worldly  actes  of  grete  conquerours  and  prynces,  and 
also  certeyn  bookes  of  ensaumples  and  doctryne,  many 
noble  and  dyvers  gentylmen  of  thys  royame  of  Englond 
camen  and  demaunded  me  many  and  oftymes  wherfore 
that  I  have  not  do  make  and  enprynte  the  noble  hystorye 
of  the  saynt  greal,  and  of  the  moost  renomed  crysten 
kyng,  fyrst  and  chyef  of  the  thre  best  crysten  and  worthy, 
kyng  Arthur,  whyche  ought  moost  to  be  remembred 
emonge  us  Englysshe  men  tofore  al  other  crysten  kynges." 

It  appears  that  Caxton  was  an  unbeliever,  as  to  King 
Arthur ;  for  to  the  persons  so  inquiring  he  at  first  "  an- 
swered that  dyvers  men  holde  oppynyon  that  there  was  no 
suche  Arthur,"  and  the  like ;  and  it  is  worth  while  to  note 
the  silliness  of  the  arguments  which  satisfied  the  simple 
old  soul,  as  contrasted  with  the  severity  of  historic  con- 
science since  physical  science  has  taught  us  to  scorn  the 
comfort  of  vagueness  in  all  matters  where  it  is  possible 
to  know  the  exact  truth.  To  these  doubts  of  Caxton's, 
his  friends  "answerd,  and  one  in  specyal  sayd,  that 
in  hym  that  shold  say  or  thynke  that  there  was  never 
suche  a  kyng  callyd  Arthur,  myght  wel  be  aretted  [sup- 
posed] grete  folye  and  blyndenesse ;  for  he  sayd  that  there 
were  many  evydences  of  the  contrarye.  Fyrst  ye  may 
see  his  sepulture  in  the  monasterye  of  Glastyngburye,  and 
also  in  Polycronycon,  in  the  v  book  the  syxte  chappytre, 
and  in  the  seventh  book  the  xxiii  chappytre,  where  his 
body  was  buryed  and  after  founden  and  translated  into  the 

1  Only  two  copies  of  this  edition  now  remain,  one  of  which  is  incomplete 
The  complete  copy  is  now  in  the  library  of  the  Earl  of  Jersey. 


Introduction.  xlx 


sayd  monasterye.  Ye  shal  se  also  in  thystorye  of  Bochas 
[Boccaccio]  in  his  book  de  casu  principum,  partc  of  his 
noble  actes  and  also  of  his  falle.  Also  Galfrydus  [Geof- 
frey, latinized],  in  his  Brutysshe  book,  recounteth  his  lyf. 
And  in  divers  places  of  Englond  many  remembraunces 
ben  yet  of  hym  and  shall  remayne  perpetuelly,  and  also  of 
his  knyghtes.  Fyrst,  in  the  abbay  of  Westmestre  at  saynt 
Edwardes  shryne  remayneth  the  prynte  of  his  seal  in  reed 
[red}  waxe  closed  in  beryll,  in  whych  is  wryton  Patricius 
Artkurus,  Britannie,  Gallic,  Germanie,  Dacie,  imperator. 
Item  [also],  in  the  castel  of  Dover  ye  may  see  Gauwayns 
skulle,  and  Cradoks  mantel ;  at  Wynchester,  the  rounde 
table ;  in  other  places,  Launcelottes  swerde  [sword],  and 
many  other  thynges.  Thenne  al  these  thynges  con- 
sydered,  there  can  no  man  reasonably  gaynsaye  but  there 
was  a  kyng  of  thys  lande  named  Arthur.  .  .  .  And  also 
he  is  more  spoken  of  beyonde  the  see,  moe  bookes  made 
of  his  noble  actes,  than  there  be  in  Englond,  as  wel  in 
Duche,  Ytalyen,  Spanysshe,  and  Grekysshe,  as  in  Frensshe 
And  yet  of  record  remayne  in  wytnesse  of  hym  in  Wales, 
in  the  toune  of  Camelot,  the  grete  stones  and  mervayllous 
werkys  of  yron  lyeing  under  the  grounde,  and  ryal  [royal] 
vautes  [vaults],  which  dyvers  now  lyvyng  hath  seen.  .  .  . 
Thenne  al  these  thynges  f orsayd  aledged,  /  coude  not  wel 
denye  but  that  there  was  suche  a  noble  kyng  named  Arthur" 
and  so  finally  he  proceeds  to  "enprynte  a  book  of  the 
noble  hystoryes  of  the  sayd  kynge  Arthur,  and  of  certeyn 
of  his  knyghtes,  after  a  copye  unto  me  delyvered,  whychc 
copye  syr  Thomas  Malorye  dyd  take  oute  of  certeyn 
bookes  of  Frensshe  and  reduced  it  into  Englysshe." 

And  so,  after  running  over  England  and  France,  in  the 
twelfth  century  like  a  Scott's-novel  in  the  nineteenth ; 
after  growing,  branching  into  new  tales,  absorbing  new 


xx  Introduction. 


heroes,  embodying  new  ideas,  employing  new  writers,  and 
delighting  whole  countries,  through  Wace,  Map,  Layamon, 
Gaimar,  de  Borron,  and  many  other  authors,  until  the 
latter  part  of  the  fifteenth  century :  all  the  separate  sto- 
ries originating  in  Geoffrey's  history  arc  brought  together 
and  moulded  into  one  work,  with  a  sort  of  beginning,  a 
plot,  and  a  crisis,  by  Sir  Thomas  Malory,  who  may  thus, 
with  but  little  strain,  be  said  to  have  written  the  first 
English  novel.  And  his  modifications  and  general  treat- 
ment of  his  material  —  of  which  no  details  can  be  given 
here  —  suffice,  I  think,  to  give  him  a  claim  to  this  book, 
not  as  a  mere  compilation,  but  as  a  work  in  which  so 
much  of  himself  is  mingled  that  it  is  largely,  and  in  some 
of  its  best  features,  his  own.  This  is  indeed  almost  a 
peculiar  circumstance  characterizing  the  successive  im- 
provements of  the  Arthurian  story  as  it  comes  on  down 
the  ages.  We  might  fairly  trace  the  growth  of  English 
civilization  by  comparing  with  the  earliest  conceptions  of 
King  Arthur  the  latest  ideal  of  him  in  our  literature  given 
us  by  our  own  great  master  Tennyson.  It  is  interesting  to 
recall  here  that  Milton  at  first  chose  the  Arthurian  story 
to  make  a  great  poem  of,  and  dearly  cherished  the  idea ; 
but  the  troublous  times  long  prevented  any  great  work, 
and  he  finally  found  the  larger  theme  of  Paradise  Lost. 

And  now,  —  when  four  hundred  years  after  Caxton 
printed  this  book  for  "  many  noble  and  divers  gentlemen  of 
this  realm  of  England,"  you  find  a  later  editor  re-arranging 
the  old  grown-people's  story  for  many  noble  and  divers 
boys  both  of  England  and  America, — perhaps  the  fore- 
going account  may  justify  you  in  a  certain  sense  of  proud 
responsibility  as  you  recall  the  question  with  which  I 
began  this  long  inquiry. 


Introduction.  xxl 


No  book  ever  needed  less  pointing-out  of  its  intrinsic 
faults  and  beauties  than  this  frank  work  of  a  soul  so  trans- 
parent that  one  is  made  to  think  of  the  Wakulla  Spring  in 
Florida  where  one  can  see  a  penny  on  the  bottom  at  a 
hundred  feet  depth.  I  will  but  ask  you  to  observe  spe- 
cially the  majestic  manhood  of  Sir  Launcelot  during  those 
dolorous  last  days  when  King  Arthur,  under  the  frenzied 
advice  of  Sir  Gawaine,  brings  two  great  armies  in  succes- 
sion to  besiege  Joyous  Gard.  Day  after  day  Gawaine, 
and  sometimes  Arthur,  call  out  the  vilest  taunts  and  dares 
and  accusations  over  the  walls ;  but  ever  Sir  Launcelot, 
though  urged  even  by  his  own  indignant  followers  within, 
replies  with  a  grave  and  lordly  reasonableness  which 
shames  his  enemies  beyond  measure :  twice  he  fights  a 
great  single-handed  battle  *vith  Sir  Gawaine,  and,  although 
Gawaine  is  miraculously  helped,  wounds  him  sorely,  yet 
spares  his  life ;  he  charges  his  knights  to  be  still  loyal  to 
King  Arthur,  and  to  do  the  king  no  hurt,  upon  pain  of 
death ;  and  one  day  in  a  general  engagement  when  King 
Arthur  is  unhorsed  Sir  Launcelot  himself  flies  to  the 
rescue,  places  the  king  on  horseback  again,  and  sees  him 
safe,  with  perfect  tenderness  and  loyalty.  Larger  be- 
havior is  not  shown  us  anywhere  in  English  literature. 
And  from  this  point  on,  the  pictures  of  the  passing  of 
Arthur,  of  Launcelot  grovelling  on  the  tomb  of  the  king, 
of  Launcelot's  own  strange  departure,  and  of  Sir  Ector 
lamenting  Sir  Launcelot  and  describing  that  great  knight 
in  his  lamentation,  —  are  wrought  with  a  simple  art  that 
is  as  perfect  as  artlessness.  In  the  Introduction  to  The 
Boy* sFroissart  —  to  which  this  is  intended  as  a  companion- 
book  —  I  have  pointed  out  the  proper  relation  of  this  work 
as  a  picture  of  times  and  manners,  and  have  discussed  the 
old  and  the  modern  knight.  I  will  therefore  add  but  a  brief 


xxii  Introduction. 


explanation  of  the  manner  in  which  I  have  brought  for- 
ward the  old  text. 

Every  word  in  the  book,  except  those  which  occur  in 
brackets,  is  Malory's,  unchanged  except  that  the  spelling 
is  modernized.  Of  the  bracketed  words,  there  are  two 
sorts,  fulfilling  different  functions :  those  in  italics  are 
always  in  explanation  of  the  word  or  phrase  immediately 
before ;  while  those  not  italicised  are  the  editor's,  being 
connective  clauses  in  which  I  have  a  few  times  found  it 
convenient  to  preserve  the  thread  of  a  story  which  could 
not  be  given  entire.  I  have  also  changed  the  division 
into  books,  from  Caxton's  wholly  unreasonable  arrange- 
ment of  twenty-one,  to  six,  each  mainly  occupied  with 
adventures  turning  upon  the  hero  or  event  which  names 
it. 

Into  the  fine  fellowship,  then,  of  lordly  Sir  Launcelot, 
of  generous  Sir  Tristram,  of  stainless  Sir  Galahad,  of 
gentle  Sir  Percival,  of  meek  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney,  of 
brilliant  Sir  Palamides  the  Saracen,  of  dolorous  Sir 
Balin  and  Sir  Balan,  of  persevering  Sir  la  Cote  Mai 
Taile,  of  hilarious  Sir  Dinadan,  and  of  a  hundred  more,  — 
as  well,  alas !  as  into  the  ungentle  company  of  cowardly 
King  Mark,  of  traitorous  Sir  Mordred,  and  of  wicked 
Morgan  le  Fay,  —  I  commit  you,  with  feelings  so  like 
those  with  which  Caxton  closes  his  prologue  that  I  can- 
not help  applying  to  the  young  readers  of  this  work  his 
farewell  words  to  his  maturer  audience.  "And  for  to 
passe  the  tyme,  this  book  shal  be  plesaunte  to  rede  in, 
but  for  to  gyve  fayth  and  byleve  that  al  is  trewe  that  is 
contained  herin,  ye  be  at  your  lyberte ;  but  al  is  wryton 
for  our  doctryne,"  and  this  book  is  therefore  sent  forth 
"to  the  entente  that  noblemen  may  see  and  lerne  the 
noble  actes  of  chyvalrye,  the  jentyl  and  vertuous  dedes. 


Introduction.  xxiii 


that  somme  knyghtes  used  in  tho  days,  by  whyche  they 
came  to  honour,  and  how  they  that  were  vycious  were 
punysshed,  and  often  put  to  shame  and  rebuke,  humbly 
bysechying  al  noble  lordes  and  ladyes,  wyth  al  other  es- 
tates, of  what  estate  or  degree  they  been  of,  that  shal  see 
and  rede  in  this  sayd  book  <nd  werke,  that  they  take  the 
good  and  honest  actes  ',**  their  remembraunce,  and  to 
folowe  the  same." 

SIDNEY  LANIER. 

BALTIMOftX,  MIX, 


YOGA   LIBSAEY  i 

HAJA  YOGA  ACADEMY  I 
Point  Loma  Cdl.  •! 


CONTENTS. 


BOOK  I. 

OF  KING  ARTHUR. 

CHAPTER  I.  fM 

Or  THE  BIRTH  OF  KING  ARTHUR,  AND  OF  HIS  NOURISHING,  AND 
OF  THE  DEATH  OF  KING  UTHERFENDRAGON,  AND  HOW  ARTHUR 
WAS  CHOSEN  KlNGy  AND  OF  WONDERS  AND  MARVELS  OF  A 

SWORD  THAT  WAS  TAKEN  OUT  OF  STONE  BY  THE  SAID  ARTHUR,          I 

CHAPTER  II. 
How  KING  ARTHUR  PULLED  our  THE  SWORD  DIYERS  TIMES.       .       4 

CHAPTER  III. 
How  ARTHUR  WAS  CROWNED  KING,  AND  HOW  HE  MADE  OFFICERS,       6 

CHAPTER  IV. 

How  GRIFLET  WAS  MADE  KNIGHT,  AND  HOW  HE  JOUSTED  WITH  A 
KNIGHT j 

CHAPTER  V. 

How  MERLIN  SAVED  KING  ARTHUR'S  LIFE,  AND  THREW  AN  EN- 
CHANTMENT UPON  KING  PELLINORE,  AND  MADE  HIM  TO  FALL 
ON  SLEEP 9 

CHAPTER  VI. 

How  ARTHUR  BY  THE  MEAN  OF  MERLIN  GAP  EXCALIBUR  HIB 
SWORD  OF  THE  LADY  OF  THE  LAKE  ij 


xxvl  Contents. 


CHAPTER  VII.  FArau 

How  TIDINGS  CAME  TO  KING  ARTHUR  THAT  KING  RYENCE  HAD 
OVERCOME  ELEVEN  KINGS,  AND  HOW  HE  DESIRED  KING  ARTHUR'S 
BEARD  TO  PURFLE  \bordcr\  HIS  MANTLE  .  .  16 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Or  A  DAMSEL  WHICH  CAME  GIRT  WITH  A  SWORD,  FOR  TO  FIND  A 
MAN  OF  SUCH  VIRTUE  TO  DRAW  IT  our  OF  THE  SCABBARD  .  17 

CHAPTER  IX. 

How  BALIN,  ARRAYED  LIKE  A  POOR  KNIGHT,  PULLED  our  THE 
SWORD,  WHICH  AFTERWARD  WAS  CAUSE  OF  HIS  DEATH  .  .  19 

CHAPTER  X. 
How  THE  LADY  o*  THE  LAKE  DEMANDED  THE  KNIGHT'S  HEAD 

THAT  HAD  WON  THE  SWORD,  OR  THE  MAIDEN'S  HEAD          .          .        M 

CHAPTER  XI. 
How  MERLIN  TOLD  THE  ADVENTURE  OF  THE  DAMSEL     ...      14 

CHAPTER  XII. 

How  BALIN  WAS  PURSUED  BY  SIR  LANCEOR,  A  KNIGHT  OF  IRE- 
LAND, AND  HOW  BALIN  SLEW  HIM  ...  ...  25 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

How  A  DAMSEL  WHICH  WAS  IN  LOVE  WITH  LANCEOR,  SLEW  HER- 
SELF FOR  HIS  LOVE,  AND  HOW  BALIN  MET  WITH  HIS  BROTHER 

BALAN 27 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

How  A  DWARF  REPROVED  BALIN  FOR  THE  DEATH  OF  LANCEOR, 
AND  HOW  KING  MARK  OF  CORNWALL  FOUND  THEM,  AND  MADE 
A  TOMB  OVER  THEM xB 

CHAPTER  XV. 

How  MERLIN  PROPHESIED  THAT  BALIN  SHOULD  STRIKE  THE  DO- 
LOROUS STROKE 39 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

How  BALIN  AND  HIS  BROTHER  BY  THE  COUNSEL  OF  MERIJN  TOOK 
KING  RYENCE,  AND  BROUGHT  HIM  TO  KING  ARTHUR  ...  31 


Contents.  xxvil 


CHAPTER  XVII.  fAOfc 

How  KING  ARTHUR  HAD  A  BATTLE  AGAINST  NERO  AND  KINO 
LOT,  AND  HOW  TWELVE  KINGS  WERE  SLAIN 33 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

OF  THE  INTERMENT  OF  TWELVE  KINGS,  AND  o*  THE  PROPHECY 
OF  MERLIN,  AND  HOW  BALIN  SHOULD  GIVE  THE  DOLOROUS 
STROKE 35 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

How  A  SORROWFUL  KNIGHT  CAME  BEFORE  KING  ARTHUR,  AND 
HOW  BALIN  FETCHED  HIM,  AND  HOW  THAT  KNIGHT  WAS  SLAIN 
BY  A  KNIGHT  INVISIBLE 37 

CHAPTER  XX. 
How  THE  DAMSEL  BLED  FOR  THE  CUSTOM  OF  A  CASTLC.       .       .      39 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
How  BALIN  MET  WITH  THE  KNIGHT  NAMED  GARLON  AT  A  FEAST, 

AND  THERE  HE  SLEW  HIM  TO  HAVE  HIS  BLOOD  TO  HEAL  THERE- 
WITH THE  SON  OF  HIS  HOST 40 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

How  BALIN  FOUGHT  WITH  KING  PELLAM,  AND  HOW  HIS  SWORD 
BRAKE,  AND  HOW  HE  GAT  A  SPEAR  WHEREWITH  HE  SMOTE  THE 
DOLOROUS  STROKE 49 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

How  BALIN  MET  WITH  HIS  BROTHER  BALAN,  AND  HOW  EACH  OF 
THEM  SLEW  OTHER  UNKNOWN,  TILL  THEY  WERE  WOUNDED  TO 
DEATH •  •  •  43 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

How  KING  ARTHUR  TOOK  AND  WEDDED  GUENEVER  UNTO  HIS 
WIFE 4$ 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

How  THE  KNIGHTS  OF  THE  ROUND  TABLE  WERE  ORDAINED,  AND 
HOW  THEIR  SIEGES  [s«its}  WERE  BLESSED  BY  THE  ARCHBISHOP 
OF  CANTERBURY 4* 


xxviil  Contents. 


BOOK    II. 

OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  DU  LAKE. 

CHAPTER  I. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  SIR  LIONEL  DEPARTED  FROM  THE  COURT 
FOR  TO  SEEK  ADVENTURES,  AND  HOW  SlR  LIONEL  LEFT  SlR 
LAUNCELOT  SLEEPING,  AND  WAS  TAKEN 59 

CHAPTER  II. 

HOW  SIR    ECTOR   FOLLOWED    FOR   TO    SEEK    SlR    LAUNCELOT,    AND 

HOW  HE  WAS  TAKEN  BY  SlR  TURQUINE .         .  .         .         .       p 

CHAPTER  III. 

How  FOUR  QUEENS  FOUND  SIR  LAUNCELOT  SLEEPING,  AND  HOW 
BY  ENCHANTMENT  HE  WAS  TAKEN  AND  LED  INTO  A  CASTLE  .  54 

CHAPTER  IV. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  WAS  DELIVERED  BY  THE  MEANS  OF  A  DAM- 
SEL   56 

CHAPTER  V. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  WAS  RECEIVED  OF  KINO  BAGDEMAGUS* 
DAUGHTER,  AND  HOW  HE  MADE  HIS  COMPLAINT  UNTO  HER 
FATHER $8 

CHAPTER  VI. 
How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  BEHAVED  HIM  IN  A  TOURNAMENT,  AND  HOW 

HE  MET  WITH  SlR  TURQUINE  LEADING  AWAY  SlR  GAHERIS          .        60 

CHAPTER  VII. 
How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  SIR  TURQUINE  FOUGHT  TOGETHER        .     63 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  SLEW  Two  GIANTS,  AND  MADE  A  CASTLE 
FREE  « 


Contents.  xxix 


CHAPTER  IX. 
How   SIR   LAUNCRLOT   FOLLOWED   A   BRACKET   INTO   A  CASTLE, 

WHERE  AS  HE  FOUND  A  DEAD  KNIGHT,  AND  HOW  AFTER- 
WARD HE  WAS  REQUIRED  OF  A  DAMSEL  FOR  TO  HEAL  HER 
BROTHER 70 

CHAPTER  X. 
How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  CAME   INTO  THE  CHAPEL  PERILOUS,  AND 

GAT    THERE  OF  A  DEAD  CORPSE  A  PIECE  OF  THE  CLOTH  AND  A 

SWORD 71 

CHAPTER  XI. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AT  THE  REQUEST  OF  A  LADY  RECOVERED  A 
FALCON,  BY  WHICH  HE  WAS  DECEIVED 75 

CHAPTER  XII. 
How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  CAME   UNTO  KING  ARTHUR'S  COURT,  AND 

HOW  THERE  WIRE  RECOUNTED  OF  HIS  NOBLE  FEATS  AND  ACTS,        77 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

How  SIR  LAUNCKLOT  BECAME  MAD,  AND  LEAPED  FROM  A  WIN- 
DOW    .  79 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
WHAT  SORROW  QUEEN  GUENEVER  MADE  FOR  SIR  LAUNCELOT,  AND 

HOW  HE  WAS  SOUGHT  BY  KNIGHTS  OF  HIS  KlN  .        8O 

CHAPTER  XV. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  IN  HIS  MADNESS  TOOK  A  SWORD,  AND  FOUGHT 
WITH  A  KNIGHT,  AND  AFTER  LEAPED  IN  A  BSD          .       .       .     8a 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  WAS  CARRIED  IN  A  HORSE-LITTER,  AND  HOW 
SIR  LAUNCELOT  RESCUED  SIR  BLIANT  HIS  HOST  ....     84 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  WAS  KNOWN  BY  DAME  ELAINE,  AND  HOW 
HE  WAS  BORNE  INTO  A  CHAMBER,  AND  AFTER.  HEALED  IT  THE 
HOLY  GRAIL 81 


xxx  Contents. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

OF  A  GREAT  TOURNAMENT  IN  THE  JOYOUS  ISLE,  AND  HOW  SIR 
PERCIVAL  FOUGHT  WITH  HIM  ;  HOW  EACH  OF  THEM  KNEW  OTHER, 
AND  OF  THEIR  GREAT  COURTESY,  AND  HOW  HIS  BROTHER  SlR 

ECTOR  CAME  UNTO  HIM,  AND  OF  THEIR  JOY  .  ...        90 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  WITH  SIR  PERCIVAL  AND  SIR  ECTOR  CAME 

TO  THE  COURT,  AND  OF  THEIR  GREAT  JOY  OF  HIM        •          •          •        94 


BOOK    III. 

OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY. 

CHAPTER  I. 

How  BEAUMAINS  CAMS  TO  KING  ARTHUR'S  COURT,  AND  DEMANDED 
THREE  PETITIONS  OF  KING  ARTHUR  ....  96 

CHAPTER   II. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  SIR  GAWAINE  WERE  WROTH  BECAUSE 
SIR  KAY  MOCKED  BEAUMAINS,  AND  OF  A  DAMSEL  WHICH 
DESIRED  A  KNIGHT  FOR  TO  FIGHT  FOR  A  LADY  ....  99 

CHAPTER  III. 
How  BEAUMAINS  DESIRED  THE  BATTLE,  AND  HOW  IT  WAS  GRANTED 

HIM,  AND  HOW  HE  DESIRED  TO  BE  MADE  KNIGHT  OF  SlR  LAUN- 
CELOT   ....  .  101 

CHAPTER  IV. 

How  BEAUMAINS  DEPARTED,  AND  HOW  HE  GOT  OF  SIR  KAY  A  SPEAR 
AND  A  SHIELD,  AND  HOW  HE  JOUSTED  AND  FOUGHT  WITH  SIR 
LAUNCELOT *QJ 

CHAPTER  V. 
How  BEAUMAINS  TOLD  TO  SIR  LAUNCELOT  HIS  NAME,  AND  HOW 

HE  WAS  DUBBED  KNIGHT  OF  SlR  LAUNCELOT,  AND  AFTER  OVER- 
TOOK THE  DAMSEL 104 


Contents.  xxxl 


CHAPTER  VI. 

How  SIR  BEAUMAINS  FOUGHT  WITH  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  BLACK 
LAWNS,  AND  HE  FOUGHT  SO  LONG  WITH  HIM  THAT  THE  BLACK 
KNIGHT  FELL  DOWN  AND  DIED  .......  106 

CHAPTER  VII. 

How  THE  BROTHER  OF  THE  KNIGHT  THAT  WAS  SLAIN  MET  WITH 
SIR  BEAUMAINS,  AND  FOUGHT  WITH  SIR  BEAUMAINS,  WHICH 

YIELDED  HIM  AT  THE  LAST         ...  ....      log 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
How  THE  DAMSEL  ALWAYS  REBUKED  SIR  BEAUMAINS,  AND  WOULD 

NOT    SUFFER     HIM     TO     SIT    AT     HER    TABLE,    BUT    CALLED    HIM 

KITCHEN  PAGE  ....  ......    in 

CHAPTER  IX. 
How  SIR  BEAUMAINS  SUFFERED  GREAT  REBUKES  OF  THE  DAMSEL, 

AND  HE  SUFFERED  IT  PATIENTLY      .          .  .          ...      Ill 

CHAPTER  X. 
How  SIR  BEAUMAINS  FOUGHT  WITH  SIR  PERSANT  OF  INDE,  AND 


MADE  HIM  TO  BE  YIELDEN 


CHAPTER  XL 

How  THE  DAMSEL  AND  BEAUMAINS  CAME  TO  THE  SIEGE,  AMD  CAME 
TO  A  SYCAMORE  TREE,  AND  THERE  BEAUMAINS  BLEW  A  HORN, 

AND  THEN  THE  KNIGHT  OF    THE    RED    LAWNS    CAME   TO    FIGHT 
WITH  HIM    .  ........      117 

CHAPTER  XII. 
How  THE  Two  KNIGHTS  MET  TOGETHER,  AND  OF  THEIR  TALKING, 

AND  HOW  THEY  BEGAN  THEIR  BATTLE    ......      119 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
How  A*TSR  LONG  FIGHTING  BEAUMAINS  OVERCAME  THE  KNIGHT, 

AND  WOULD    HAVE    SLAIN    HIM,   BUT    AT    THE    REQUEST    OF    THE 

LORDS  HE  SAVED  HIS  LIFE,  AND  MADS  HIM  TO  YIELD  HIM  TO 
THE  LADY          .......  .  121 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

How  THE  KNIGHT  YIELDED  HIM,  AND  HOW  BEAUMAINS  MADE  HIM 
TO  GO  UNTO  KING  ARTHUR'S  COURT,  AND  TO  CRY  SIR  LAUNCKLOT 
MERCY  ............  124 


xxxli  Contents. 


CHAPTER  XV. 
How  SIR  GARETH,  OTHERWISE  CALLED  BEAUMAINS,  CAME  TO  THE 

PlJCSENCK  OF    HIS   LADY,  AND   HOW  THEY  TOOK  ACQUAINTANCE, 
AND  OF  THEIK  LOYE Ij| 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

How  AT  THE  FEAST  OF  PENTECOST  ALL  THE  KNIGHTS  THAT  SIR 
GARETH  HAD  OVERCOME  CAME  AND  YIELDED  THEM  UNTO  KING 
ARTHUR .  .  133 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
How  THE  QUEEN  OF  ORKNEY  CAME  TO  THIS  FEAST  OF  PENTECOST, 

AND  INQUIRED  OF  HER  SON  SlR  GARETH IJ5 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

How  KINO  ARTHUR  SENT  FOR  THE  LADY  LYONESS,  AND  HOW  SIR 
GARETH  ACKNOWLEDGED  THAT  THEY  LOVED  EACH  OTHER  TO 
KINO  ARTHUR,  AND  OF  THE  DAY  OF  THEIR  WEDDING  .  .  137 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

OF  THE  GREAT  ROYALTY  AND  WHAT  OFFICERS  WERE  MADE  AT  FHE 
FEAST  OF  SIR  GARETH  AND  DAME  LYONESS*  WEDDING,  AND  OF 
THE  GREAT  JOUSTING  AT  THE  SAME  FEAST  AND  WEDDING  .  140 


BOOK   IV. 

OF  SIR  TRISTRAM. 

CHAPTER  I. 

How   SIR  TRISTRAM   DE   LYONESSE  WAS   BORN,  AND  HOW   HIS 
MOTHER  DESIRED  THAT  HIS  NAME  SHOULD  BE  TRISTRAM  .       .    144 

CHAPTER  II. 

[How  THE  STEPMOTHER  OF  YOUNG  TRISTRAM  WOULD  HAVE  POI- 
SONED HIM,  AND  HOW  HE  DELIVERED    HER    FROM  THE  FlRE,  OF 

HIS  GREAT  FORGIVENESS] MI 


Contents.  xxxiii 


CHAPTER  III. 
How  SIR  TRISTRAM  WAS  SENT  INTO  FRANCE,  AND  HAD  ONE  TO 

GOVERN  HIM    NAMED    GOUVERNAIL,  AND    HOW    HE    LEARNED   TO 
HARP,  HAWK,  AND  HUNT 147 

CHAPTER  IV. 

How  SIR  MARHAUS  CAME  our  OF  IRELAND  FOR  TO  ASK  TRUAGE 
or  CORNWALL,  OR  ELSE  HE  WOULD  FIGHT  THEREFORE.  .  .  148 

CHAPTER  V. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  ENTERPRISED  THE  BATTLE  TO  FIGHT  FOR  THE 
TRUAGE  OF  CORNWALL,  AND  HOW  HE  WAS  MADE  KNIGHT  .  .150 

CHAPTER  VI. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  ARRIVED  INTO  THE  ISLAND  FOR  TO  FURNISH 
THE  BATTLE  WITH  SIR  MARHAUS  ...  153 

CHAPTER  VII. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  FOUGHT  AGAINST  SIR  MARHAUS  AND  FINISHED 
HIS  BATTLE,  AND  HOW  SIR  MARHAUS  FLED  TO  HIS  SHIPS  .  .  154 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
How  SIR  MARHAUS,  AFTER  HE  WAS  ARRIVED  IN  IRELAND,  DIED  OF 

THE    STROKE    THAT  TRISTRAM  HAD  GIVEN  HIM,  AND   HOW    TRIS- 
TRAM WAS  HURT ...      156 

CHAPTER  IX. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  WAS  PUT  TO  THE  KEEPING  OF  LA  BELLE 
ISOLDE  TO  BE  HEAT.TD  OF  HIS  WOUND 158 

CHAPTER  X. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  WON  THE  DEGREE  AT  A  TOURNAMENT  IN  IRE- 
LAND, AND  THERE  MADE  PALAMIDES  TO  BEAR  NO  HARNESS  III  A 

YEAR  160 

CHAPTER  XL 

How  THE  QUEEN  ESPIED  THAT  SIR  TRISTRAM  HAD  SLAIN  HER 
BROTHER  SIR  MARHAUS  BY  HIS  SWORD,  AND  IN  WHAT  JEOPARDY 
H»  WAS ....  i6a 


xxxiv  Contents. 


CHAPTER  XII.  FACE 

How  Sim  TRISTRAM  DEPARTED  FROM  KING  ANGUISH  AND  LA 
BELLI  ISOLDE  our  OF  IRELAND  FOR  TO  COME  INTO  CORNWALL.  164 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

How  KING  MARK  SENT  SIR  TRISTRAM  FOR  LA  BELLE  ISOLDE 
TOWARD  IRELAND,  AND  HOW  BY  FORTUNE  HE  ARRIVED  INTO 
ENGLAND  ...  167 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

How  KING  ANGUISH  OF  IRELAND  WAS  SUMMONED  TO  COME  UNTO 
KING  ARTHUR'S  COURT  FOR  TREASON 168 

CHAPTER  XV. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  FOUGHT  FOR  SIR  ANGUISH,  AND  OVERCAME 
HIS  ADVERSARY,  AND  HOW  HIS  ADVERSARY  WOULD  NEVER  YIELD 

HIM 170 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
How  SIR  TRISTRAM  DEMANDED  LA  BELLE  ISOLDE  FOR  KING  MARK, 

AND  OF  THE  WEDDING  OF  KlNG  MARK  TO  LA  BELLE  ISOLDE     .      173 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  DEPARTED  FROM  TINTAGIL,  AND  HOW  HE  SOR- 
ROWED, AND  WAS  SO  LONG  IN  A  FOREST  TILL  HE  WAS  OUT  OF 

HIS  MIND 174 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  SOUSED  DAGONET  IN  A  WELL,  AND  HOW  HE 
SLEW  A  GIANT 175 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

How  KING  MARK  FOUND  SIR  TRISTRAM  NAKED,  AND  MADE  HIM  TO 
BE  BORNE  HOME  TO  TlNTAGIL.  AND  HOW  HE  WAS  THERE  KNOWN 
BY  A  BRACHET 177 

CHAPTER  XX. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  CAME  INTO  ENGLAND,  AND  JOUSTED  WITH 
KING  ARTHUR  AND  SIR  LAUNCELOT  so  WORTHILY  THAT  THE 

PRIZE  WAS  GIVEN  TO  HIM  ;  AND  HOW  KlNG  ARTHUR  MADE  HIM 

KNIGHT  ->F  THE  ROUND  TABLE       .       .  .    180 


Contents.  xxxv 


CHAPTER  XXI.  rAtMt 

How  A  YOUNG  MAN  CAME  INTO  THE  COURT  OF  KING  ARTHUR, 
AND  HOW  Sm  KAY  CALLED  HIM  IN  SCORN,  LA  COTE  MAL 
TAILS 183 


CHAPTER  XXII. 
How  A  DAMSEL  CAME  UNTO  THE  COURT  AND  DESIRED  A  KNIGHT 

TO  TAKE  ON   HIM  AN   INQUEST,  WHICH  LA  COTE  MAL  TAILE  EM- 
PRISED 185 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

How  SIR  LA  COTE  MAL  TAILE  OVERTHREW  SIR  DAGONET,  KINO 
ARTHUR'S  FOOL,  AND  OF  THE  REBUKE  THAT  HE  HAD  OF  THE 
DAMSEL 187 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
How  LA  COTE  MAL  TAILE  FOUGHT  AGAINST  AN  HUNDRED  KNIGHTS, 

AND  HOW  HE  ESCAPED  BY  THE  MEAN  OF  A  LADY  .      189 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  CAME  TO  THE  COURT  AND  HEARD  OF  SIR  LA 
COTE  MAL  TAILE,  AND  HOW  HE  FOLLOWED  AFTER  HIM,  AND 
HOW  SIR  LA  COTE  MAL  TAILE  WAS  PRISONER  .  .192 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 
How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  FOUGHT  WITH  six   KNIGHTS,  AND   AFTER 

THAT  HE  FOUGHT    WITH    SlR    BRIAN,  AND    HOW    HE    DELIVERED 
ALL  THE  PRISONERS 194 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 
How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  MET  WITH  THE  DAMSEL  NAMED  MALEDISANT, 

AND  HOW  HE  NAMED  HER  THE  DAMSEL  BlENPENSANT  .          .      196 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 
How  LA  COTE  MAL  TAILE  WAS  TAKEN  PRISONER,  AND  AFTER 

RESCUED  BY  SlR  LAUNCELOT,  AND    HOW  SlR    LAUNCELOT    OVER- 
CAME FOUR  BRETHREN 199 


xxxvl  Contents. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  MADE  LA  COTE  MAL  TAILE  LORD  OF  THE 
CASTLE  OF  PENDRAGON,  AND  AFTER  HE  WAS  MADE  KNIGHT  OF 
THE  ROUND  TABLE aoi 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

How,  FOR  THE  DESPITE  OF  SIR  TRISTRAM,  KING  MARK  CAME 
WITH  Two  KNIGHTS  INTO  ENGLAND,  AND  HOW  DAGONET,  KING 
ARTHUR'S  FOOL,  PUT  HIM  TO  FLIGHT 203 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

How  KING  ARTHUR  MADS  KING  MARK  TO  BE  ACCORDED  WITH  SIR 
TRISTRAM,  AND  HOW  THEY  DEPARTED  TOWARD  CORNWALL.  .  205 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 
How  AT  A  GREAT  FEAST  THAT  KING  MARK  MADE,  AN  HARPER 

CAME  AND  SANG  THE  LAY  THAT  DlNADAN  HAD  MADI.  .     207 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

How  KING  MARK  SLEW  BY  TREASON  HIS  BROTHER  BOUDWINX  FOR 
GOOD  SERVICE  THAT  HE  HAD  DONE  TO  HIM ao8 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

How  ANGLIDES,  BOUDWINE'S  WIFE,  ESCAPED  WITH  HER  YOUNG 
SON  ALISANDER  LORFELIN,  AND  CAME  TO  THE  CASTLE  OF  ARUN- 

DEL ....     3IO 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 
How  ANGLIDES  GAVE  THE  BLOODY  DOUBLET  UNTO  ALISANDER  HER 

SON   THE  SAME   DAY  THAT    HE    WAS    MADE   KNIGHT,    AND    THE 

CHARGE  WITHAL        ....  .  aia 

CHAPTER  XXXVL 

How  SIR  ALISANDER  WON  THE  PRIZE  AT  A  TOURNAMENT,  AND  OF 
MORGAN  LE  FAY.  AND  HOW  HE  FOUGHT  WITH  SIR  MALGRW 

AND  SLEW  HIM SIJ 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 
How  QUEEN  MORGAN  LE  FAY  HAD  SIR  ALISANDER  IN  HER  CASTLE. 

AND  HOW  SHE  HEALED  HIS  WOUNDS        .          .  .  ail 


Contents.  xxxvil 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII.  rAcm 

How  SIR  ALISANDER  WAS  DELIVERED  FROM  QUEEN  MORGAN  LI 
FAY  BY  THE  MEANS  OF  A  DAMSEL  .  ...    tao 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 
How  ALISANDER  MET  WITH  ALICE  LA  BELLE  PILGRIM,  AND  HOW 

HE  JOUSTED  WITH  TWO  KNIGHTS;    AND  AFTER   OF  HIM    AND    OF 

SIR  MORDRED 221 

CHAPTER  XL. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  MET  WITH  SIR  DINADAN,  AND  OF  THXIR  DE- 
VICES, AND  WHAT  HE  SAID  UNTO  SlR  GAWAINE'S  BRETHREN  .  225 

CHAPTER  XLI. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  SMOTE  DOWN  SIR  AGRA  VAIN  i  AND  SIR  GAHE- 
RIS,  AND  HOW  SIR  DINADAN  WAS  SENT  FOR  BY  LA  BELLI 
ISOLDE 219 

CHAPTER  XLII. 

How  SIR  DINADAN  MET  WITH  SIR  TRISTRAM,  AND  WITH  JOUSTING 
WITH  SIR  PALAMIDES  SIR  DINADAN  KNEW  HIM  ....  232 

CHAPTER  XLIII. 

HOW  THEY  APPROACHED  THE  CASTLE  OF  LONAZEP,  AND  OF  OTHER 
DEVICES  OF  THE  DEATH  OF  SIR  LAMORAK 255 

CHAPTER  XLIV. 

HOW    THEY    CAME    TO    HUMBER    BANK,  AND    HOW  THEY    FOUND    A 

SHIP  THERE,  WHEREIN  LAY  THE  BODY  OF  KlNG   HERMANCE         .      2j8 

CHAPTER  XLV. 
How  SIR  TRISTRAM  WITH  HIS  FELLOWSHIP  CAME  AND  WERE  WITH 

AN    HOST    WHICH    AFTER    FOUGHT    WITH    SlR    TRISTRAM;    AND 

OTHER  MATTERS 240 

CHAPTER  XLVI. 

How  SIR  PALAMIDES  WENT  FOR  TO  FIGHT  WITH  Two  BRETHREN 
FOR  THE  DEATH  OF  KING  HERMANCE 244 


xxxviii  Contents. 


CHAPTER  XLVII.  rA0fc 

THE  COFY  OF  THE  LETTER  WRITTEN  FOR  TO  REVENGE  THE  KING'S 
DEATH,  AND  HOW  SIR  PALAMIDES  FOUGHT  FOR  TO  HAVE  THE 
BATTLE 246 

CHAPTER  XLVIII. 
OF  THE  PREPARATION  OF  SIR  PALAMIDES  AND  THE  Two  BRETHREN 

THAT  SHOULD  FIGHT  WITH  HIM 249 

CHAPTER  XLIX. 
OF  THE  BATTLE  BETWEEN  SIR  PALAMIDES  AND  THE  Two  BRETHREN, 

AND  HOW  THE  TWO  BRETHREN  WERE  SLAIN  .          .          .          .      2p 

CHAPTER   L. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  AND  SIR  LAUNCELOT,  WITH  SIR  PALAMIDES, 
CAME  TO  JOYOUS  CARD,  AND  OF  SlR  PALAMIDES  AND  OF  SlR 
TRISTRAM 255 

CHAPTER   LI. 

HOW  THERE  WAS  A  DAY  SET  BETWEEN  SlR  TRISTRAM  AND  SlR 
PALAMIDES  FOR  TO  FIGHT,  AND  HOW  SIR  TRISTRAM  WAS  HURT,  157 

CHAPTER  LII. 

How  THAT  SIR  PALAMIDES  KEPT  HIS  DAY  FOR  TO  HAVE  FOUGHTKN, 
BUT  SIR  TRISTRAM  MIGHT  NOT  COME 259 

CHAPTER  LIII. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  DEPARTED  UNARMED,  AND  MET  WITH  SIR 
PALAMIDES,  AND  HOW  SIR  PALAMIDES  FORBORE  HIM  .  260 

CHAPTER  LIV. 
How  THAT  SIR  TRISTRAM  GAT  HIM  HARNESS  OF  A  KNIGHT  WHICH 

WAS  HURT,  AND  HOW  HE  OVERTHREW  SlR  PALAMIDES  .          .      26* 

CHAPTER  LV. 
How  SIR  TRISTRAM  AND  SIR  PALAMIDES  FOUGHT  LONG  TOGETHER, 

AND  AFTER  ACCORDED  ;   AND  HOW  SlR  TRISTRAM   MADE    HIM    TO 

IS  CHRISTENED 264 

CHAPTER  LVI. 

How  KING  MARK  SLEW  SIR  TRISTRAM  BY  TREACHERY,  AND  LA 
BELLE  ISOLDS  DIED  OF  GRIEF. *6f 


Contents.  xxxh 


BOOK    V. 

OF  SIR  GALAHAD  AND  SIR  PERCIVAL. 

CHAPTER  I. 

How  THE  LETTERS  WERE  FOUND  WRITTEN  IN  THE  SIEGE  PERIL- 
OUS, AND  OF  THE  MARVELLOUS  ADVENTURE  OF  THE  SWORD  IN  A 

STONE 267 

CHAPTER   II. 

[How  AN  OLD  MAN]  BROUGHT  SIR  GALAHAD  UNTO  THE  SIEGE 
PERILOUS,  AND  SET  HIM  THEREIN;  AND  HOW  KING  ARTHUR 
SHOWED  THE  STONE,  HOVING  ON  THE  WATER,  TO  GALAHAD,  AND 

HOW  HE  DREW  OUT  THE  SWORD 2;0 

CHAPTER  III. 

How  THE  QUEEN  DESIRED  TO  SEE  SIR  GALAHAD,  AND  HOW,  AFTER, 
ALL  THE  KNIGHTS  WERE  REPLENISHED  WITH  THE  HOLY  GRAIL, 
AND  HOW  THEY  AVOWED  THE  INQUEST  OF  THE  SAME  .  .  .  a;j 

CHAPTER   IV. 

How  GREAT  SORROW  WAS  MADE  OF  THE  KING  AND  THE  QUEEN 
AND  LADIES  FOR  THE  DEPARTING  OF  THE  KNIGHTS,  AND  HOW 
THEY  DEPARTED 275 

CHAPTER  V. 
How  SIR  GALAHAD  GAT  HIM  A  SHIELD,  AND  HOW  THEY  SPED  THAT 

PRESUMED  TO  TAKE  DOWN  THAT   SHIELD 9ff 

CHAPTER  VI. 
How  GALAHAD  DEPARTED  WITH  THE  SHIELD,  AND   HOW  KINO 

EVELAKE    HAD    RECEIVED    THE    SHIELD    OF    JOSEPH    OF   ARTMA- 
THRA *7, 

CHAPTER  VII. 
How  SIR  GALAHAD  FOJGHT  WITH  THE  KNIGHTS  OF  THE  CASTLE, 

AND  DESTROYED  THE   WlCKED  CUSTOM a8l 


Contents. 


CHAPTER  VIII.  .^ 

How  SIR  GALAHAD  MIT  WITH  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  WITH  SIR 

PERCIVAL,  AND  SMOTE  THEM  DOWN,  AND  DEPARTED  FROM  THEM,      2*5 

CHAPTER  IX. 
How  SIR  PERCIYAL  RODE  A  FIEND  IN  THE  SHAPE  OF  A  HORSE, 

AND  HOW  HE  SAW  A  SERPENT  AND  A  LlON  FIGHT         .          .          .     2*6 

CHAPTER  X. 

OF  WONDERS  AND  MARVELS  OF  A  SHIP,  AND  OF  A  SWORD  WHICH 
SIR  GALAHAD  FOUND  THEREIN 988 

CHAPTER  XI. 
How  KING  PELLES  WAS  SMITTEN  THROUGH  BOTH  THIGHS  BECAUSE 

HE  DREW  THE  SWORD,  AND  OTHER  MARVELLOUS  HISTORIES         .      29! 

CHAPTER  XII. 
How  SOLOMON  TOOK  DAVID'S  SWORD  BY  THE  COUNSEL  OF  HI* 

WIFE,  AND  OF  OTHER  MATTERS  MARVELLOUS          ....     393 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
OF  THE  WONDERFUL  TALE  OF  KING  SOLOMON  AND  HIS  WIFE      .    195 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  ENTERED  INTO  THE  SHIP  WHERE  SIR  PER- 
CIVAL'S  SISTER  LAY  DEAD,  AND  HOW  HE  MET  WITH  SIR  GALA- 
HAD HIS  SON 298 

CHAPTER  XV. 
How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  WAS  NIGH  THE  SANCGREAL,  BUT  WAS  DRIVEN 

FORTH  FROM  IT,  WITH  TERRORS  AND  WONDERS    ....      JOO 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

How  SIR  GALAHAD  ACHIEVED  THE  SANCGREAL,  AND  WAS  TAKXK 
UP  INTO  HEAVEN 303 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
How  SIR  PERCIVAL  DIED,  AND  SIR  BORS  RETURNED  TO  CAMELOT.    304 


Contents.  xli 


BOOK   VI. 
OF  THE  DEATH  OF  ARTHUR. 

CHAPTER  I.  FA8fc 

HOW  QUEKN   GUENEVER  WAS  APPEALED  OF   MURDERING  A  KNIGHT,      305 

CHAPTER  II. 

How  SIR  MADOR  IMPEACHED  THE  QUEEN  OF  TREASON,  AND  THUB 
WAS  NO  KNIGHT  WHO  WOULD  FIGHT  FOR  HER  AT  TUB  FIRST 
TIME 307 

CHAPTER  III. 

How  THE  QUEEN  REQUIRED  SIR  BORS  TO  FIGHT  FOR  HER,  AND 
HOW  HE  GRANTED  HER  UPON  A  CONDITION,  AND  HOW  HI 
WARNED  SIR  LAUNCELOT  THEREOF 310 

CHAPTER  IV. 

How  AT  THE  DAY  SIR  BORS  MADE  HIM  READY  FOR  TO  FIGHT  FOR 
QUEEN  GUENEVER,  AND  HOW  ANOTHER  DISCHARGED  HIM  WHEN 
HE  SHOULD  FIGHT 313 

CHAPTER  V. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  FOUGHT  AGAINST  SIR  MADOR  FOR  THE 
QUEEN,  AND  HOW  HE  OVERCAME  SIR  MADOR  AND  DISCHARGED 
THE  QUEEN 315 

CHAPTER  VI. 
How  THE  TRUTH  WAS  KNOWN  BY  THE  DAMSES  OF  TUB  LAKE,  AND 

OF  DIVERS  OTHER  MATTERS 318 

CHAPTER  VII. 
How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  RODE  TO  ASTOLAT,  AND  RECEIVED  A  SLEEVE 

TO  BEAR  UPON  HIS  HELM  AT  THE  REQUEST  OF  A  MAID       .          .      JJC 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

How  THE  TOURNAMENT  BEGAN  AT  WINCHESTER,  AND  WHAT 
KNIGHTS  WERE  AT  THE  JOUSTS,  AND  OF  OTHER  MATTERS  .  .  321 


xlii  Contents. 


CHAPTER  IX.  IAGfc 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  SIR  LAVAINE  ENTERED  IN  THE  FIELD 

AGAINST  THEM  OF  KING    ARTHUR'S    COURT,  AND    HOW  LAUNCK- 
LOT WAS  HURT 314 

CHAPTER  X. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  SIR  LAVAINE  DEPARTED  our  OF  THE 
FIELD,  AND  IN  WHAT  JEOPARDY  SIR  LAUNCELOT  WAS  .  .  yrj 

CHAPTER  XL 
How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  WAS  BROUGHT  UNTO  AN  HERMIT  FOR  TO  BE 

HEALED  OF  HIS  WOUND,  AND  OF  OTHER  MATTERS  .     330 

CHAPTER  XII. 

How  SIR  GAWAINE  HAD  KNOWLEDGE  THAT  IT  WAS  SIR  LAUNCE- 
LOT THAT  BARE  THE  RED  SLEEVE 333 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
How  FAIR  ELAINE  AND  SIR  BORS  FOUND  SIR  LAUNCELOT     .       .    335 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

OF  THE  GREAT  LAMENTATION  THAT  THE  FAIR  MAID  OF  ASTOLAT 
MADE  WHEN  SlR  LAUNCELOT  SHOULD  DEPART,  AND  HOW  SHE 

DIED  FOR  HIS  LOVE 338 

CHAPTER  XV. 

How  THE  CORPSE  OF  THE  FAIR  MAID  OF  ASTOLAT  ARRIVED 
BEFORE  KING  ARTHUR,  AND  OF  THE  BURYING,  AND  HOW  SIR 
LAUNCELOT  OFFERED  THE  MASS-PENN\ 341 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

How  QUEEN  GUENEVER  ROPE  ON  MAYING  WITH  CERTAIN  KNIGHTS 
OF  THE  ROUND  TABLE  CLOTHED  ALL  IN  GREEN  .    343 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
How  SIR  MELIAGRANCE  TOOK  THE  QUEEN  AND  ALL  HER  KNIGHTS, 

WHICH  WERE  SORE  HURT  IN  FIGHTING 345 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  RODE  IN  A  CART  AND  RESCUED  THE  QUEEN,    347 


Contents.  xliH 


CHAPTER  XIX.  WMmf 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  WAS  TAKEN  IN  A  TRAP  BY  TREACHERY  OF 
SIR  MELIAORANCE 349 

CHAPTER  XX. 
How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  FOUGHT  SIR  MEUAGRANCE  WITH  ONE  HAND 

TIED  BEHIND,  AND  WITH  HIS  HEAD  AND  SlDK   BARE  OF  ARMOR,     350 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
How  SIR  URRE  CAME  UNTO  KINO  ARTHUR'S  COURT  FOR  TO  BK 

HEALED  OF  HIS  WOUNDS,  [AND  HOW  KlNO  ARTHUR  AND    MANY 

KNIGHTS  HANDLED  HIM  TILL  THAT  SIR  LAUNCELOT  MADE  HIM 
WHOLE] 352 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

(How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AGAIN  RESCUED  QUEEN  GUKNKVKR  FROM 

THE    FlRE,  AND    CARRIED    HER    AWAY,  AND    OF    THE    WARS    BE- 
TWIXT HIM  AND  KING  ARTHUR] 359 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

OF  THE  COMMUNICATION  BETWEEN  KING  ARTHUR  AND  SIR  LAUN- 
CELOT, AND  HOW  KING  ARTHUR  REPROVED  HIM  ....    361 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
How  KING  ARTHUR  AND   SIR  GAWAINE  MADS  A  GREAT  HOST 

READY  TO  GO  OVER  SEA  TO   MAKE  WAR  ON   SlR  LAUNCELOT        .     367 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

How  SIR  GAWAINE  AND  SIR  LAUNCELOT  DID  BATTLE  TOGETHER, 
AND  HOW  SIR  GAWAINE  WAS  OVERTHROWN  AND  HURT       .       .    371 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 
OF  THE  SORROW  THAT  KING  ARTHUR  MADE  FOR  THE  WAR,  AND 

OF     ANOTHER     BATTLE     WHERE    ALSO     SlR    GAWAINE    HAD   THE 

WORSE 374 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

HOW  SIR  MORDRED  PRESUMED  AND  TOOK  ON  HIM  TO  BE  KING  OF 
ENGLAND,  AND  WOULD  HAVE  MARRIED  THE  QUEEN     .  .    377 


xliv  Contents. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

HOW  AFTER  THAT  KING  ARTHUR  HAD  TIDINGS,  HK  RETURNED  AND 
CAME  TO  DOVER,  WHERE  SlR  MORDRED  MET  HIM  TO  LET  HIS 

LANDING,  AND  OF  THE  DEATH  OP  SIR  GAWAINE  ....    380 
CHAPTER  XXIX. 

HOW  AFTER  SlE  GAWAINE*S  GHOST  APPEARED    TO    KlNQ    ARTHUR, 

AND  WARNED  HIM  THAT  HE  SHOULD  NOT  FIGHT  THAT  DAY         .     383 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

How  BY  MISADVENTURE  OF  AN  ADDER  THE  BATTLE  BEGAN,  WHERE 
SIR  MOEDEED  WAS  SLAIN  AND  KlNO  ARTHUR  WOUNDED  TO 
DEATH  .  385 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

How  KING  ARTHUR  COMMANDED  TO  CAST  HIS  SWORD  EXCALIBUR 
INTO  THE  WATER,  AND  HOW  HE  WAS  DELIVERED  TO  LADIES  IN 
A  BARGE 388 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

How  SIE  BEDIVERE  FOUND  KING  ARTHUR  DEAD  ON  THE  MORROW 
IN  AN  HERMITAGE,  AND  HOW  HE  ABODE  THERE  WITH  THE  HEB- 

M1T 391 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

How  WHEN  SIE  LAUNCELOT  HEARD  OF  THE  DEATH  OF  KING 
ARTHUR  AND  OF  SIE  GAWAINE,  HE  CAME  INTO  ENGLAND  .  .  393 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 
How  SIE  LAUNCELOT  DEPARTED  TO  SEEK  THE  QUEEN  GUENEVER, 

AND  HOW  HE  FOUND  HER  AT  ALMESBUEY 394 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 

How  SIE  LAUNCELOT  WENT  WITH  HIS  SEVEN  FELLOWS  TO  ALMES- 
BUEY, AND  FOUND  THERE  QUEEN  GUENEVER  DEAD,  WHOM  THEY 
BROUGHT  TO  GLASTONBURY  .  397 


Contents.  xlv 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 
How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  BEGAN  TO  SICKEN,  AND  AFT**  DIED,  WHOSE 
BODY  WAS  BORNE  TO  JOYOUS  CARD  FOR  TO  BX  BURIED      .       .    398 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 
How  SIR  ECTOR  FOUND  SIR  LAUNCELOT  HIS  BROTHER  DEAD,  AND 

HOW  CONSTANTINE  REIGNED  NEXT  AFTER  KlNO  ARTHUR.  AJf  D  OF 

nut  END  OF  new  BOOK.  .........    401 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


HOW   SIR    TURQUINB    BARB    SlR    ECTOR    CLEAN  OUT  OP  HIS 

SADDLE Frontispiece. 

How  ARTHUR  GAT  HIS  SWORD  EXCALIBUR    ....  14 

How  BALIN  SMOTE  THE  DOLOROUS  STROKE  ....  42 

THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  BLACK  LAWNS lot 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  SOUSED  SIR  DAGONET  IN  THE  WELL  .  175 
How  ELIOT  THE  HARPER  SANG  THE  LAY  THAT  DINADAN 

HAD   MADE 207 

SIR  GALAHAD  BROUGHT  TO  THE  SIEGE  PERILOUS.       .       .  271 

SIR  LAUNCELOT  AT  THE  CASTLE  OF  THE  HOLY  GRAIL        .  300 

THE  TOURNAMENT  AT  CAMELOT 323 

QUEEN  GUENBVER'S  PERIL 360 

THE  COMBAT  OF  MORDRED  AND  KING  ARTHUR    .       .       .  387 

How  BEDIVERE  BART  ARTHUR  TO  THE  WATERSIDE     .       .  390 

•Ml 


BOOK    I. 
OF   KING  ARTHUR. 


CHAPTER  I. 

OF  THE  BIRTH  OF  KING  ARTHUR,  AND  OF  HIS  NOURISHING,  AND  OF 
THE  DEATH  OF  KING  UTHERPENDRAGON,  AND  HOW  ARTHUR  WAS 
CHOSEN  KING,  AND  OF  WONDERS  AND  MARVELS  OF  A  SWORD  THAT 
WAS  TAKEN  OUT  OF  STONE  BY  THE  SAID  ARTHUR. 

IT  befell  in  the  days  of  the  noble  Utherpendragon, 
when  he  was  king  of  England,  [that  there  was  born 
to  him  a  son  who  in  after  time  was  King  Arthur.  How- 
beit  the  boy  knew  not  he  was  the  king's  son.  For  when 
he  was  but  a  babe]  the  king  commanded  two  knights  and 
two  ladies  to  take  the  child  bound  in  rich  cloth  of  gold, 
"and  deliver  him  to  what  poor  man  you  meet  at  the 
postern  gate  of  the  castle."  So  the  child  was  delivered 
unto  Merlin,  and  so  he  bare  it  forth  unto  Sir  Ector,  and 
made  an  holy  man  to  christen  him,  and  named  him 
Arthur;  and  so  Sir  Ector's  wife  nourished  him.  Then 
within  two  years  King  Uther  fell  sick  of  a  great  malady ; 
[and  thereof  he  died].  Then  stood  the  realm  in  great 
[danger]  a  long  while,  for  every  lord  made  him  strong, 
and  many  weened  [thought]  to  have  been  king.  [And 
so,  by  Merlin's  counsel,  all  the  lords  of  England  came 


The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


together  in  the  greatest  church  of  London  on  Christmas 
morn  before  it  was  day,  to  see  if  God  would  not  show 
by  some  miracle  who  should  be  king.]  And  when  the 
first  mass  was  done  there  was  seen  in  the  church-yard, 
against  the  high  altar,  a  great  stone  four-square,  like  to 
a  marble  stone,  and  in  the  midst  thereof  was  an  anvil  of 
steel,  a  foot  of  height,  and  therein  stuck  a  fair  sword 
naked  by  the  point,  and  letters  of  gold  were  written 
about  the  sword  that  said  thus :  WHO  so  PULLETH  OUT 

THIS  SWORD  OF  THIS  STONE  AND  ANVIL,  IS  RIGHTWISE 
KING  BORN  OF  ENGLAND. 

So  when  all  the  masses  were  done,  all  the  [lords]  went 
for  to  behold  the  stone  and  the  sword.  And  when  they 
saw  the  scripture,  some  assayed  [tried]  such  as  would 
have  been  king.  But  none  might  stir  the  sword  nor 
move  it. 

"  He  is  not  yet  here,"  said  the  archbishop,  "  that  shal1 
achieve  the  sword,  but  doubt  not  God  will  make  him  to 
be  known.  But  this  is  my  counsel,"  said  the  archbishop, 
"  that  we  let  purvey  [provide"]  ten  knights,  men  of  good 
fame,  and  they  to  keep  this  sword." 

And  upon  New  Year's  day  the  barons  let  make  a  tour- 
nament for  to  keep  the  lords  together,  for  the  archbishop 
trusted  that  God  would  make  him  known  that  should  win 
the  sword.  So  upon  New  Year's  day  when  the  service 
was  done  the  barons  rode  to  the  field. 

And  so  it  happened  that  Sir  Ector  rode  to  the  jousts, 
and  with  him  rode  Sir  Kay,  his  son,  and  young  Arthur 
that  was  his  nourished  brother.  [But  Sir]  Kay  had  lost 
his  sword,  for  he  had  left  it  at  his  father's  lodging,  and 
so  he  prayed  young  Arthur  to  ride  for  his  sword.  "  I 
will  with  a  good  will,"  said  Arthur,  and  rode  fast  aftei 
the  sword ;  and  when  he  came  home,  the  lady  and  all 


Of  King  Arthur. 


were  gone  out  to  see  the  jousting.  Then  was  Arthur 
wroth,  and  said  to  himself,  "  I  will  ride  to  the  church-yard 
and  take  the  sword  with  me  that  sticketh  in  the  stone, 
for  my  brother  Sir  Kay  shall  not  be  without  a  sword  this 
day."  And  so  when  he  came  to  the  church-yard  Arthur 
alighted,  and  tied  his  horse  to  the  stile,  and  so  went  to 
the  tent,  and  found  no  knights  there,  for  they  were  all 
at  the  jousting;  and  so  he  handled  the  sword  by  the 
handles,  and  lightly  and  fiercely  he  pulled  it  out  of  the 
stone,  and  took  his  horse  and  rode  his  way  till  he  came 
to  his  brother  Sir  Kay,  and  delivered  him  the  sword. 
And  as  soon  as  Sir  Kay  saw  the  sword,  he  wist  [knew] 
well  that  it  was  the  sword  of  the  stone,  and  so  he  rode 
to  his  father,  Sir  Ector,  and  said  :  "  Sir,  lo  here  is  the 
sword  of  the  stone ;  wherefore  I  must  be  king  of  this 
land."  When  Sir  Ector  beheld  the  sword,  he  returned 
again  and  came  to  the  church,  and  there  they  alighted, 
all  three,  and  went  into  the  church,  and  anon  he  made 
Sir  Kay  to  swear  upon  a  book  how  he  came  to  that  sword. 

"Sir,"  said  Sir  Kay,  "by  my  brother  Arthur,  for  he 
brought  it  to  me." 

"  How  gate  [got]  you  this  sword  ? "  said  Sir  Ector  to 
Arthur. 

"  Sir,  I  will  tell  you.  When  I  came  home  for  my  broth- 
er's sword,  I  found  nobody  at  home  for  to  deliver  me  his 
sword,  and  so  I  thought  my  brother  Sir  Kay  should  not 
be  swordless,  and  so  I  came  thither  eagerly  and  pulled 
it  out  of  the  stone  without  any  pain." 

"  Found  ye  any  knights  about  this  sword  ? "  said  Sir 
Ector. 

"Nay,"  said  Arthur. 

"  Now,"  said  Sir  Ector  to  Arthur,  "  I  understand  that 
you  must  be  king  of  this  land." 


The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


"  Wherefore  I  ? "  said  Arthur. 

"Sir,"  said  Ector,  "for  there  should  never  man  have 
drawn  out  this  sword  but  he  that  shall  be  rightwise  king 
of  this  land.  Now  let  me  see  whether  ye  can  put  the 
sword  there  as  it  was  and  pull  it  out  again." 

"  That  is  no  mastery,"  said  Arthur ;  and  so  he  put  it  in 
the  stone.  Therewith  Sir  Ector  assayed  to  pull  out  the 
sword,  and  failed. 


CHAPTER  II. 

How  KING  ARTHUR  PULLED  OUT  THE  SWORD  DIVERS  TIMES. 

NOW  assay,"  said  Sir  Ector  to  Sir  Kay.  And  anon 
he  pulled  at  the  sword  with  all  his  might  but  it 
would  not  be.  "Now  shall  ye  assay,"  said  Sir  Ector 
to  Arthur. 

"I  will  well,"  said  Arthur,  and  pulled  it  out  easily. 
And  therewithal  Sir  Ector  kneeled  down  to  the  earth,  and 
Sir  Kay. 

"  Alas,"  said  Arthur,  "  mine  own  dear  father  and  brother, 
why  kneel  ye  to  me  ? " 

"  Nay,  nay,  my  lord  Arthur,  it  is  not  so :  I  was  never 
your  father  nor  of  your  blood,  but  I  wote  [know]  well  ye 
are  of  an  higher  blood  than  I  weened  [thought]  ye  were." 
And  then  Sir  Ector  told  him  all.  Then  Arthur  made 
great  moan  when  he  understood  that  Sir  Ector  was  not 
his  father. 

"Sir,"  said  Ector  unto  Arthur,  "will  ye  be  my  good 
and  gracious  lord  when  ye  are  king  ? " 

"Else  were  I  to  blame,"  said  Arthur,  "for  ye  are  the 
man  in  the  world  that  I  am  most  beholding  [obliged]  to, 


Of  King  Arthur. 


and  my  good  lady  and  mother  your  wife,  that  as  well  aa 
her  own  hath  fostered  and  kept  me.  And  if  ever  it  be 
God's  will  that  I  be  king,  as  ye  say,  ye  shall  desire  of  me 
what  I  may  do,  and  I  shall  not  fail  you." 

"  Sir,"  said  Sir  Ector,  "  I  will  ask  no  more  of  you  bu; 
that  you  will  make  my  son,  your  fostered  brother  Sir  Ka> 
seneschal  of  all  your  lands." 

"  That  shall  be  done,  sir,"  said  Arthur,  "  and  more  b> 
the  faith  of  my  body;  and  never  man  shall  have  that 
office  but  he  while  that  he  and  I  live." 

Therewithal  they  went  unto  the  archbishop,  and  told 
him  how  the  sword  was  achieved,  and  by  whom.  And 
upon  the  twelfth  day  all  the  barons  came  thither  for  to 
assay  to  take  the  sword.  But  there  afore  them  all,  there 
might  none  take  it  out  but  only  Arthur ;  wherefore  there 
were  many  great  lords  wroth,  and  said,  "It  was  great 
shame  unto  them  all  and  the  realm  to  be  governed  with  a 
boy  of  no  high  blood  born."  And  so  they  fell  out  at  that 
time,  that  it  was  put  off  till  Candlemas,  and  then  all  the 
barons  should  meet  there  again.  But  always  the  ten 
knights  were  ordained  for  to  watch  the  sword  both  day 
and  night ;  and  so  they  set  a  pavilion  over  the  stone  and 
the  sword,  and  five  always  watched.  And  at  Candlemas 
many  more  great  lords  came  thither  for  to  have  won  the 
sword,  but  none  of  them  might  prevail.  And  right  as 
Arthur  did  at  Christmas  he  did  at  Candlemas,  and  pulled 
out  the  sword  easily,  whereof  the  barons  were  sore  ag- 
grieved, and  put  it  in  delay  till  the  high  feast  of  Easter. 
And  as  Arthur  sped  afore,  so  did  he  at  Easter ;  and  yet 
there  were  some  of  the  great  lords  had  indignation  that 
Arthur  should  be  their  king,  and  put  it  off  in  delay  till 
the  feast  of  Pentecost. 


The  JBo^s  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER  III. 

How  ARTHUR  WAS  CROWNED  KING,  AND  HOW  H*  MADE  OFFICERS. 

AND  at  the  feast  of  Pentecost  all  manner  of  men 
assayed  to  pull  at  the  sword  that  would  assay,  and 
none  might  prevail ;  but  Arthur  pulled  it  out  afore  all 
the  lords  and  commons  that  were  there,  wherefore  all  the 
commons  cried  at  once :  "  We  will  have  Arthur  unto  our 
king ;  we  will  put  him  no  more  in  delay ;  for  we  all  see 
that  it  is  God's  will  that  he  shall  be  our  king,  and  who 
that  holdeth  against  it  we  will  slay  him."  And  there- 
withal they  kneeled  down  all  at  once,  both  rich  and  poor, 
and  cried  Arthur  mercy,  because  they  had  delayed  him  so 
long.  And  Arthur  forgave  it  them,  and  took  the  sword 
between  both  his  hands,  and  offered  it  upon  the  altar 
where  the  archbishop  was,  and  so  was  he  made  knight  of ' 
the  best  man  that  was  there.  And  so  anon  was  the  coro- 
nation made,  and  there  was  he  sworn  to  the  lords  and 
commons  for  to  be  a  true  king,  to  stand  with  true  justice 
from  thenceforth  all  the  days  of  this  life.  Also  then  he 
made  all  lords  that  held  of  the  crown  to  come  in,  and  to 
do  service  as  they  ought  to  do.  And  many  complaints 
were  made  unto  King  Arthur  of  great  wrongs  that  were 
done  since  the  death  of  King  Uther,  of  many  lands  that 
were  bereaved  of  lords,  knights,  ladies  and  gentlemen. 
Wherefore  King  Arthur  made  the  lands  to  be  given  again 
unto  them  that  owned]  them.  When  this  was  done  that 
the  king  had  stablished  all  the  countries  about  London, 

1  "  Of  "  was  often  used  for  the  modern  by  in  Sir  Thomas  Malory's  time, 
and  is  still  so  used  upon  occasion.  "  Made  knight  of  the  best  man  "  that 
means  made  knight  by  the  best 


Of  King  Arthur. 


then  he  let  make  Sir  Kay  seneschal  of  England ;  and  Sir 
Baudwin  of  Britain  was  made  constable  ;  and  Sir  Ulfius 
was  made  chamberlain ;  and  Sir  Brastias  was  made  war- 
den to  wait  upon  the  north  from  Trent  forwards,  for  it 
was  that  time  for  the  most  part  enemy  to  the  king. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

How  GRIFLET  WAS  MADE  KNIGHT,  AND  HOW  HE  JOUSTED  WITH  A 
KNIGHT. 

THEN  on  a  day  there  came  into  the  court  a  squire  on 
horseback,  leading  a  knight  before  him  wounded  to 
the  death,  and  told  him  there  was  a  knight  in  the  forest 
that  had  reared  up  a  pavilion  by  a  well  [spring]  side,  "  and 
hath  slain  my  master,  a  good  knight,  and  his  name  was 
Miles ;  wherefore  I  beseech  you  that  my  master  may  be 
buried,  and  that  some  good  knight  may  revenge  my  mas- 
ter's death."  Then  was  in  the  court  great  noise  of  the 
knight's  death,  and  every  man  said  his  advice.  Then 
came  Griflet,  that  was  but  a  squire,  and  he  was  but  young, 
of  the  age  of  King  Arthur,  so  he  besought  the  king,  for 
all  his  service  that  he  had  done,  to  give  him  the  order  of 
knighthood. 

"Thou  art  full  young  and  tender  of  age,"  said  King 
Arthur,  "for  to  take  so  high  an  order  upon  thee." 

"  Sir,"  said  Griflet,  "  I  beseech  you  to  make  me  a 
knight." 

"Sir,"  said  Merlin,  "it  were  pity  to  leese  [lose]  Griflet, 
for  he  will  be  a  passing  good  man  when  he  oometh  to 
age,  abiding  with  you  the  term  of  his  life;  and  if  he 


8  The  Bofs  King  Arthur. 

adventure  his  body  with  yonder  knight  at  the  fountain, 
he  shall  be  in  great  peril  if  l  ever  he  come  again,  for  he  is 
one  of  the  best  knights  of  the  world,  and  the  strongest 
man  of  arms." 

"Well,"  said  King  Arthur.  So,  at  the  desire  of  Griflet, 
the  king  made  him  knight. 

"  Now,"  said  King  Arthur  to  Sir  Griflet,  "  sithen  [sinc*\ 
that  I  have  made  thee  knight,  thou  must  grant  me  a  gift." 

"  What  ye  will,  my  lord,"  said  Sir  Griflet. 

"  Thou  shalt  promise  me,  by  the  faith  of  thy  body,  that 
when  thou  hast  jousted  with  the  knight  at  the  fountain, 
whether  it  fall  [happen]  that  ye  be  on  foot  or  on  horse- 
back, that  in  the  same  manner  ye  shall  come  again  unto 
me  without  any  question  or  making  any  more  debate." 

"  I  will  promise  you,"  said  Griflet,  "  as  ye  desire." 
Then  Sir  Griflet  took  his  horse  in  great  haste,  and  dressed 
his  shield,  and  took  a  great  spear  in  his  hand,  and  so  he 
rode  a  great  gallop  till  he  came  to  the  fountain,  and 
thereby  he  saw  a  rich  pavilion,  and  thereby  under  a  cloth 
stood  a  fair  horse  well  saddled  and  bridled,  and  on  a 
tree  a  shield  of  divers  colors,  and  a  great  spear.  Then 
Sir  Griflet  smote  upon  the  shield  with  the  end  of  his 
spear,  that  the  shield  fell  down  to  the  ground. 

With  that  came  the  knight  out  of  the  pavilion,  and 
said,  "  Fair  knight,  why  smote  ye  down  my  shield  ? " 

"  For  I  will  joust  with  you,"  said  Sir  Griflet. 

"It  were  better  ye  did  not,"  said  the  knight,  "for  ye 
are  but  young  and  late  made  knight,  and  your  might  is 
nothing  to  mine." 

"As  for  that,"  said  Sir  Griflet,  "I  will  joust  with  you," 

"That  is  me  loth,"  said  the  knight,  "but  sith  [since]  I 

1  "  If  "  here  oieans  whether.  "  In  great  peril  if  ever  he  come  again  "  •  in 
great  danger  of  never  getting  back. 


Of  King  Arthur. 


must  needs,  I  will  dress  me  thereto;  but  of  whence  be 
ye  ? "  said  the  knight. 

"Sir,  I  am  of  King  Arthur's  court."  So  they  ran 
together  that  Sir  Griflet's  spear  all  to-shivered  [shivered 
all  to  pieces},  and  therewithal  he  smote  Sir  Griflet  through 
the  shield  and  the  left  side,  and  brake  the  spear,  that  the 
truncheon  stuck  in  his  body,  that  horse  and  knight  fell 
down. 

When  the  knight  saw  him  lie  so  on  the  ground  he 
alighted,  and  was  passing  heavy,  for  he  wend  \weened\  he 
had  slain  him,  and  then  he  unlaced  his  helm  and  got  him 
wind,  and  so  with  the  truncheon  he  set  him  on  his  horse, 
and  betook  him  to  God,  and  said  he  had  a  mighty  heart, 
and  if  he  might  live  he  would  prove  a  passing  good 
knight.  And  so  Sir  Griflet  rode  to  the  court,  whereas 
great  moan  was  made  for  him.  But  through  good  leeches 
[surgeons]  he  was  healed  and  his  life  saved. 


CHAPTER  V. 

How  MERLIN  SAVED  KING  ARTHUR'S  LIFE,  AND  THREW  AN  ENCHANT. 
MENT  UPON  KING  PELLINORE,  AND  MADE  HIM  TO  FALL  ON  SLEEP. 

A  ND  King  Arthur  was  passing  wroth  for  the  hurt  of 
•^  *•  Sir  Griflet.  And  by  and  by  he  commanded  a  man 
of  his  chamber  that  his  best  horse  and  armor  "  be  without 
the  city  or  [before]  to-morrow  day."  Right  so  in  the  morn- 
ing he  met  with  his  man  and  his  horse,  and  so  mounted 
up  and  dressed  his  shield,  and  took  his  spear,  and  bade 
his  chamberlain  tarry  there  till  he  came  again.  And  so 
King  Arthur  rode  but  a  soft  pace  till  it  was  day,  and  then 
was  he  ware  of  three  churls  which  chased  Merlin,  and 


ro  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

would  have  slain  him.  Then  King  Arthur  rode  unto 
them  a  good  pace,  and  cried  to  them :  "  Flee,  churls." 
Then  were  they  afraid  when  they  saw  a  knight,  and  fled 
away.  "  O  Merlin,"  said  King  Arthur,  "  here  hadst  thou 
been  slain  for '  all  thy  craft,  had  I  not  been." 

"  Nay,"  said  Merlin,  "  not  so,  for  I  could  save  myself  if 
1  would,  and  thou  art  more  near  thy  death  than  I  am,  for 
thou  goest  toward  thy  death,  and  2  God  be  not  thy  friend." 

So,  as  they  went  thus  talking,  they  came  to  the  foun 
tain,  and  the  rich  pavilion  by  it.  Then  King  Arthur 
was  ware  where  a  knight  sat  all  armed  in  a  chair.  "  Sir 
knight,"  said  King  Arthur,  "for  what  cause  abidest  thou 
here  ?  That  there  may  no  knight  ride  this  way  but  if  he 
do  joust  with  thee  ? "  said  the  king.  "  I  rede  [advise] 
thee  leave  that  custom,"  said  King  Arthur. 

"  This  custom,"  said  the  knight,  "  have  I  used  and  will 
use,  maugre  [in  spite  of~\  who  saith  nay ;  and  who  is 
grieved  with  my  custom,  let  him  amend  it  that  will." 

"  I  will  amend  it,"  said  King  Arthur. 

"And  I  shall  defend  it,"  said  the  knight.  Anon  he 
took  his  horse,  and  dressed  his  shield,  and  took  a  spear, 
and  they  met  so  hard  either  on  other's  shield,  that  they 
all  to-shivered  [shivered  all  to  pieces}  their  spears.  There- 
with King  Arthur  drew  his  sword.  "  Nay,  not  so,"  said 
the  knight,  "  it  is  fairer  that  we  twain  run  more  together 
with  sharp  spears." 

"I  will  well,"  said  King  Arthur,  "and  [//]  I  had  any 
mo  [more}  spears." 

"I  have  spears  enough,"  said  the  knight.  So  there 
came  a  squire,  and  brought  two  good  spears,  and  King 

*  "  For  "  here  means  in  spite  of;  as  still  used,  in  certain  phrases. 

•  "And"  means  if,  here.     In  later  times  it  becomes  contracted  into  "an/ 
when  used  in  this  sense. 


Of  King  Arthur.  11 


Arthur  took  one  and  he  another.  So  they  spurred  their 
horses,  and  came  together  with  all  their  mights,  that  either 
brake  their  spears  to  their  hands.  Then  Arthur  set  hand 
on  his  sword.  "Nay,"  said  the  knight,  "ye  shall  do 
better ;  ye  are  a  passing  good  j  ouster  as  ever  I  met  withal, 
and  for  the  love  of  the  high  order  of  knighthood  let  us 
joust  once  again." 

"I  assent  me,"  said  King  Arthur.  Anon  there  were 
brought  two  great  spears,  and  every  knight  gat  a  spear, 
and  therewith  they  ran  together  that  Arthur's  spear  all 
to-shivered.  But  the  other  knight  hit  him  so  hard  in 
midst  of  the  shield  that  horse  and  man  fell  to  the  earth, 
and  therewith  Arthur  was  eager,  and  pulled  out  his  sword, 
and  said,  "I  will  assay  thee,  Sir  knight,  on  foot,  for  I 
have  lost  the  honor  on  horseback." 

"  I  will  be  on  horseback,"  said  the  knight.  Then  was 
Arthur  wroth,  and  dressed  his  shield  towards  him  with 
his  sword  drawn.  When  the  knight  saw  that,  he  alight, 
for  him  thought  no  worship  to  have  a  knight  at  such  avail, 
he  to  be  on  horseback,  and  he  on  foot,  and  so  he  alight 
and  dressed  his  shield  unto  Arthur.  And  there  began  a 
strong  battle  with  many  great  strokes,  and  so  hewed  with 
their  swords  that  the  cantels  [pieces,  of  armor  or  of  flesh~\ 
flew  in  the  fields,  and  much  blood  they  bled  both,  that  all 
the  place  there  as  they  fought  was  over-bled  with  blood, 
and  thus  they  fought  long,  and  rested  them,  and  then 
they  went  to  the  battle  again,  and  so  hurtled  together 
like  two  rams  that  either  fell  to  the  earth.  So  at  the  last 
they  smote  together,  that  both  their  swords  met  even 
together.  But  the  sword  of  the  knight  smote  King 
Arthur's  sword  in  two  pieces,  wherefore  he  was  heavy. 
Then  said  the  knight  unto  Arthur,  "Thou  art  in  my 
danger  whether  me  list  to  save  thee  or  slay  thee,  and  but 


12  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

thou  yield  thee  as  overcome  and  recreant  thou  shalt 
die." 

"As  for  death,"  said  King  Arthur,  "welcome  be  it 
when  it  cometh,  but  as  to  yield  me  to  thee  as  recreant,  I 
had  liever  die  than  to  be  so  shamed."  And  therewithal 
the  king  leapt  unto  Pellinore,  and  took  him  by  the  middle, 
and  threw  him  down,  and  raced '  off  his  helm.  When 
the  knight  felt  that,  he  was  adread,  for  he  was  a  passing 
big  man  of  might,  and  anon  he  brought  King  Arthur 
under  him,  and  raced  off  his  helm,  and  would  have  smitten 
off  his  head. 

Therewithal  came  Merlin,  and  said  :  "  Knight,  hold  thy 
hand,  for  and  [if]  thou  slay  that  knight,  thou  puttest  this 
realm  in  the  greatest  damage  that  ever  realm  was  in,  for 
this  knight  is  a  man  of  more  worship  than  thou  wottest 
of." 

"  Why,  who  is  he  ? "  said  the  knight. 

"It  is  King  Arthur." 

Then  would  he  have  slain  him  for  dread  of  his  wrath, 
and  heaved  up  his  sword,  and  therewith  Merlin  cast  an 
enchantment  on  the  knight,  that  he  fell  to  the  earth  in  a 
great  sleep.  Then  Merlin  took  up  King  Arthur,  and 
rode  forth  upon  the  knight's  horse.  "Alas,"  said  King 
Arthur,  "  what  hast  thou  done,  Merlin  ?  hast  thou  slain 
this  good  knight  by  thy  crafts  ?  There  lived  not  so  wor- 
shipful a  knight  as  he  was  ;  I  had  liever  than  the  stint 
[loss]  of  my  land  a  year,  that  he  were  on  2  live." 

"Care  ye  not,"  said  Merlin,  "for  he  is  wholer  than  ye, 
for  he  is  but  on  3  sleep,  and  will  awake  within  three  hours. 
I  told  you,"  said  Merlin,  "what  a  knight  he  was;  here 
had  ye  been  slain  hid  I  not  been.  Also,  there  liveth  not 

1  "  Raced  "  off :  violently  tore  off.  *  "  On  live : "  old  form  of  aliv* 

u  On  sleep,"  asleep  \  as  just  above  "  on  live."  alrve. 


Of  King  Arthur.  13 

a  better  knight  then  he  is,  and  he  shall  do  you  hereafter 
right  good  service,  and  his  name  is  Pellinore,  and  he  shall 
have  two  sons,  that  shall  be  passing  good  men." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

How  ARTHUR  BY  THE  MEAN  OF  MERLIN  GAT  EXCALIBUR  HIS  SWORD 
OF  THE  LADY  OF  THE  LAKE. 

RIGHT  so  the  king  and  he  departed,  and  went  unto 
an  hermit  that  was  a  good  man  and  a  great  leech. 
So  the  hermit  searched  all  his  wounds  and  gave  him  good 
salves ;  and  the  king  was  there  three  days,  and  then  were 
his  wounds  well  amended  that  he  might  ride  and  go. 
So  Merlin  and  he  departed,  and  as  they  rode,  Arthur  said, 
"  I  have  no  sword." 

"  No  force,"  J  said  Merlin,  "  hereby  is  a  sword  that  shall 
be  yours,  and  \if\  I  may."  So  they  rode  till  they  came 
to  a  lake,  which  was  a  fair  water  and  a  broad,  and  in  the 
middest  of  the  lake  King  Arthur  was  ware  of  an  arm 
clothed  in  white  samite,  that  held  a  fair  sword  in  the 
hand.  "Lo,"  said  Merlin,  "yonder  is  that  sword  that  I 
spake  of."  With  that  they  saw  a  damsel  going  upon  the 
lake. 

"What  damsel  is  that  ? "  said  Arthur. 

"That  is  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,"  said  Merlin;  "and 
this  damsel  will  come  to  you  anon,  and  then  speak  ye  fair 
to  her  that  she  will  give  you  that  sword."  Anon  withal 
came  the  damsel  unto  Arthur  and  saluted  him,  and  he 
her  again. 

"Damsel,"   said  Arthur,   "what   sword    is    tlat,  that 

1  "  No  force,"  no  matter. 


14  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

yonder  the  arm  holdeth  above  the  water?  I  would  it 
were  mine,  for  I  have  no  sword." 

"  Sir  king/'  said  the  damsel,  "  that  sword  is  mine,  ajid 
if  ye  will  give  me  a  gift  when  I  ask  it  you,  ye  shall  have 
it." 

"  By  my  faith,"  said  Arthur,  "  I  will  give  you  what  gift 
ye  will  ask." 

"  Well,"  said  the  damsel,  "  go  ye  into  yonder  barge  and 
row  yourself  to  the  sword,  and  take  it  and  the  scabbard 
with  you,  and  I  will  ask  my  gift  when  I  see  my  time." 

So  King  Arthur  and  Merlin  alighted  and  tied  their 
horses  to  two  trees,  and  so  they  went  into  the  ship,  and 
when  they  came  to  the  sword  that  the  hand  held,  King 
Arthur  took  it  up  by  the  handles,  and  took  it  with  him. 
And  the  arm  and  the  hand  went  under  the  water ;  and 
so  they  came  unto  the  land  and  rode  forth.  And  then 
King  Arthur  saw  a  rich  pavilion :  "  What  signifieth 
yonder  pavilion  ? " 

"It  is  the  knight's  pavilion,"  said  Merlin,  "that  ye 
fought  with  last,  Sir  Pellinore,  but  he  is  out,  he  is  not 
there ;  he  hath  ado  with  a  knight  of  yours,  that  hight 
[was  named}  Egglame,  and  they  have  fought  together,  but 
at  the  last  Egglame  fled,  and  else  he  had  been  dead,  and 
he  hath  chased  him  to  Caerleon,  and  we  shall  anon  meet 
with  him  in  the  high  way." 

"  It  is  well  said,"  quoth  King  Arthur,  "  now  have  I  a 
sword,  and  now  will  I  wage  battle  with  him  and  be 
avenged  on  him." 

"  Sir,  ye  shall  not  do  so,"  said  Merlin,  "  for  the  knight 
is  weary  of  fighting  and  chasing,  so  that  ye  shall  have  no 
worship  to  have  ado  with  him ;  also  he  will  not  lightly  be 
matched  of  one  knight  living ;  and  therefore  my  counsel 
is  that  ye  let  him  pass,  for  he  shall  do  you  good  service 


1     M- 


OT-'I'^'Ml 
i  fill 

I     I  |'l;!  fi T ''','     I 


i 


Of  King  Arthur.  15 

in  short  time,  and  his  sons  after  his  days.  Also  ye  shall 
see  that  day  in  short  space,  that  ye  shall  be  right  glad  to 
give  him  your  sister  to  wife." 

"When  I  see  him,"  said  King  Arthur,  "I  will  do  as  ye 
advise  me." 

Then  King  Arthur  looked  upon  the  sword  and  liked  ;t 
passing  well. 

"Whether  liketh  you  better,"  said  Merlin,  "the  sword 
or  the  scabbard  ? " 

"  Me  liketh  better  the  sword,"  said  King  Arthur. 

"  Ye  are  more  unwise,"  said  Merlin,  "  for  the  scabbard 
is  worth  ten  of  the  sword,  for  while  ye  have  the  scabbard 
upon  you  ye  shall  leese  [lose]  no  blood  be  ye  never  so  sore 
wounded,  therefore  keep  well  the  scabbard  alway  with 
you." 

So  they  rode  on  to  Caerleon,  and  by  the  way  they  met 
with  Sir  Pellinore.  But  Merlin  had  done  such  a  craft  that 
Pellinore  saw  not  Arthur,  and  so  he  passed  by  without 
any  words. 

"  I  marvel,"  said  the  king,  "  that  the  knight  would  not 
speak" 

"  Sir,"  said  Merlin,  "  he  saw  you  not,  for  and  \if~\  he  had 
seen  you  he  had  not  lightly  departed." 

So  they  came  unto  Caerleon,  whereof  the  knights  were 
passing  glad ;  and  when  they  heard  of  his  adventures,  they 
marvelled  that  he  would  jeopard  his  person  so  alone.  But 
all  men  of  worship  said  it  was  merry  to  be  under  such  a 
chieftain  that  would  put  his  person  in  adventure  as  other 
poor  knights  did. 


16  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

How  TIDINGS  CAMI  TO  KING  ARTHUR  THAT  KING  RYENCE  HAD  OVER- 
COME ELEVEN  KINGS,  AND  HOW  HE  DESIRED  KING  ARTHUR'S  BEARD 
TO  FURFLE  \bordfr\  HIS  MANTLE. 

THE  mean  while  came  a  messenger  hastily  from  King 
Ryence  of  North  Wales,  and  he  was  king  of  all  Ire- 
land, and  of  many  isles ;  and  this  was  his  message,  greet- 
ing well  King  Arthur  in  this  manner  wise,  saying,  that 
King  Ryence  had  discomfited  and  overcome  eleven  kings, 
and  every  of  them  did  him  homage,  and  that  was  this, 
they  gave  him  their  beards  clean  flayn  of  [stripped  off}  as 
much  as  there  was ;  wherefore  the  messenger  came  for 
King  Arthur's  beard,  for  King  Ryence  had  purfled  [bor- 
dered} a  mantle  with  kings'  beards,  and  there  lacked  for 
one  place  of  the  mantle,  wherefore  he  sent  for  his  beard, 
or  else  he  would  enter  into  his  lands  "  and  burn  and  slay, 
and  never  leave  till  he  have  thy  head  and  thy  beard." 

"Well,"  said  King  Arthur,  "thou  hast  said  thy  mes- 
sage, which  is  the  most  villanous  and  lewdest  message 
that  ever  man  heard  sent  to  a  king.  Also  thou  mayest 
see  my  beard  full  young  yet  for  to  make  a  purfle  of.  But 
tell  thou  the  king  this  :  I  owe  him  none  homage,  ne  [nor} 
none  of  mine  elders,  but  or  [ere,  before}  it  be  long  he  shall 
do  to  me  homage  on  both  his  knees,  or  else  he  shall  leese 
[lose}  his  head,  by  the  faith  of  my  body,  for  this  is  the 
most  shamefullest  message  that  ever  I  heard  speak  of; 
I  see  well  the  king  met  never  yet  with  a  worshipful  man, 
but  tell  him  I  will  have  his  head  without  [unless}  he  do 
homage  unto  me." 

Then  the  messenger  departed. 


Of  King  Arthur.  17 

"Now  is  there  any  here,"  said  King  Arthur,  "that 
knoweth  King  Ryence  ? " 

Then  answered  a  knight  that  hight  [was  named]  Naram  : 
"  Sir,  I  know  him  well,  he  is  a  passing  good  man  of  his 
body  as  few  been  living,  and  a  passing  proud  man,  and, 
sir,  doubt  ye  not  he  will  make  war  on  you  with  a  mighty 
puissance." 

"  Well,"  said  King  Arthur  to  the  knight,  "  I  shall  ordain 
for  him,  and  that  shall  he  find." 


CHAPTER  VTIL 

OF  A  PAMSEL  WHICH  CAME  GIRT  WITH  A  SWORD,  FOR  TO  FIND  A  MAK 

OF  SUCH  VIRTUE  TO  DRAW  IT  OUT  OF  THE  SCABBARD. 

SO  it  befell  upon  a  time  when  King  Arthur  was  at  Lon- 
don, there  came  a  knight  that  brought  the  king 
tidings  how  that  King  Ryence  of  North  Wales  had  reared 
a  great  number  of  people,  and  were  entered  into  the  land, 
and  burnt  and  slew  the  king's  true  liege  people. 

"If  that  be  true,"  said  King  Arthur,  "it  were  great 
shame  unto  mine  estate  but  that  he  were  mightily  with- 
standen." 

"It  is  troth,"  said  the  knight,  "for  I  saw  the  host  my- 
self." 

Then  King  Arthur  let  make  a  cry,  that  all  the  lords, 
knights,  and  gentlemen  of  arms  should  draw  unto  a  castle 
that  was  called  in  those  days  Camelot,  and  there  the  king 
would  let  make  a  counsel  general,  and  a  great  joust.  So 
when  the  king  was  come  thither  with  all  his  baronage, 
and  lodged  as  them  seemed  best,  there  came  a  damseJ 


1 8  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

which  was  sent  on  message  from  the  great  lady  Lyle  of 
Avalon.  And  when  she  came  before  King  Arthur,  she 
told  him  from  whom  she  came,  and  how  she  was  sent  on 
message  unto  him  for  these  causes,  and  she  let  her  mantle 
fall  that  was  richly  furred,  and  then  was  she  girded  with  a 
noble  sword,  whereof  the  king  had  great  marvel  and  said  : 
"Damsel,  for  what  cause  are  ye  gird  with  that  sword? 
it  beseemeth  you  not." 

"Now  shall  I  tell  you,"  said  the  damsel;  "this  sword 
that  I  am  gird  withal  doth  me  great  sorrow  and  encum- 
brance, for  I  may  not  be  delivered  of  this  sword  but  by  a 
good  knight,  and  he  must  be  a  passing  good  man  of  his 
hands  and  of  his  deeds,  and  without  villany  or  treachery ; 
if  I  may  find  such  a  knight  that  hath  all  these  virtues, 
he  may  draw  out  this  sword  of  the  scabbard.  For  I  have 
been  at  King  Ryence's  for  it  was  told  me  there  were 
passing  good  knights,  and  he  and  all  his  knights  have 
assayed  it,  and  none  can  speed." 

"This  is  a  great  marvel,"  said  Arthur;  "if  this  be 
sooth  \true\t  I  will  myself  assay  to  draw  out  the  sword, 
not  presuming  upon  myself  that  I  am  the  best  knight,  but 
that  I  will  begin  to  draw  at  your  sword  in  giving  example 
to  all  the  barons,  that  they  shall  assay  every  one  after 
other  when  I  have  assayed  it." 

Then  Arthur  took  the  sword  by  the  sheath  and  by  the 
girdle,  and  pulled  at  it  eagerly,  but  the  sword  would  not 
out. 

"Sir,"  said  the  damsel,  "ye  need  not  to  pull  half  so 
hard,  for  he  that  shall  pull  it  out,  shall  do  it  with  little 
might." 

"Ye  say  well,"  said  Arthur:  "now  assay  ye,  all  my 
barons,  but  beware  ye  be  not  defiled  with  shame,  treachery, 
nor  guile." 


Of  King  Arthur.  19 

"Then  it  will  not  avail,"  said  the  damsel,  "for  he  must 
be  a  clean  knight  without  villany,  and  of  a  gentle  stream 
of  father's  side  and  mother's  side." 

[And  many]  barons  of  the  Round  Table  that  were  there 
at  that  time  assayed  all  by  row,  but  there  might  none 
speed ;  wherefore  the  damsel  made  great  sorrow  out  of 
measure,  and  said,  "Alas !  I  wend  [weened,  thought]  in 
this  court  had  been  the  best  knights,  without  treachery  or 
treason." 

"By  my  faith,"  saith  Arthur,  "here  are  good  knights 
as  I  deem  any  been  in  the  world,  but  their  grace  is  not  to 
help  you,  wherefore  I  am  displeased." 


CHAPTER  IX. 
How  BALIN,  ARRAYED  LIKE  A  POOR  KNIGHT,  PULLED  our  THE  SWORD, 

WHICH  AFTERWARD  WAS  CAUSE  OF  HIS  DEATH. 

THEN  fell  it  so  that  time  there  was  a  poor  knight 
with  King  Arthur,  that  had  been  prisoner  with  him 
half  a  year  and  more,  for  slaying  of  a  knight  the  which 
was  cousin  unto  King  Arthur.  The  name  of  this  knight 
was  called  Balin,  and  by  good  means  of  the  barons  he  was 
delivered  out  of  prison,  for  he  was  a  good  man  named 
of  his  body,  and  he  was  born  in  Northumberland.  And 
so  he  went  privily  into  the  court,  and  saw  this  adventure, 
whereof  his  heart  raised,  and  would  assay  it  as  other 
knights  did,  but,  for  because  he  was  poor  and  poorly 
arrayed,  he  put  him  not  far  in  press  [the  crowd\.  But 
in  his  heart  he  was  fully  assured  to  do  as  well  (if  his 
grace  happened  him)  as  any  knight  that  was  there.  And 
as  that  damsel  took  her  leave  of  King  Arthur  and  all 


20  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

the  barons,  this  knight  Balin  called  unto  her  and  said, 
"  Damsel,  I  pray  you  of  your  courtesy  to  suffer  me  as  well 
to  assay  as  these  lords ;  though  I  be  poorly  clothed,  in 
mine  heart  me  seemeth  I  am  fully  assured  as  some  oi 
these  other  lords,  and  me  seemeth  in  my  heart  to  speed 
right  well." 

The  damsel  beheld  the  poor  knight,  and  saw  he  was 
a  likely  man ;  but  because  of  his  poor  array  she  thought 
he  should  be  of  no  worship  without  villany  or  treachery. 
And  then  she  said  to  the  knight  Balin,  "  Sir,  it  is  no  need 
to  put  me  to  any  more  pain  or  labor,  for  it  beseemeth 
not  you  to  speed  there  as  other  have  failed." 

"Ah,  fair  damsel,"  said  Balin,  "worthiness  and  good 
taches  [qualities],  and  good  deeds,  are  not  all  only  in 
raiment,  but  manhood  and  worship  is  hid  within  man's 
person,  and  many  a  worshipful  knight  is  not  known  unto 
all  people,  and  therefore  worship  and  hardiness  is  not  in 
raiment  and  clothing." 

Said  the  damsel,  "  Ye  say  troth,  therefore  ye  shall  assay 
to  do  what  ye  may." 

Then  Balin  took  the  sword  by  the  girdle  and  scabbard, 
and  drew  it  out  easily,  and  when  he  looked  upon  the 
sword  it  pleased  him  much.  Then  had  the  king  and  all 
the  barons  great  marvel  that  Balin  had  done  that  ad- 
venture, and  many  knights  had  great  spite  at  Balin. 

"  Truly,"  said  the  damsel,  "  this  is  a  •  passing  good 
knight,  and  the  best  man  that  ever  I  found,  and  most  of 
worship  without  treason,  treachery,  or  villany,  and  many 
marvels  shall  he  do.  Now,  gentle  and  courteous  knight, 
give  me  the  sword  again." 

"  Nay,"  said  Balin,  "  for  this  sword  will  I  keep,  but  it 
be  taken  from  me  by  force." 

"Well,"  said  the  damsel,  "ye  are  not  wise  to  keep  the 


Of  King  Arthur.  21 

sword  from  me,  for  ye  shall  slay  with  the  sword  the  best 
friend  that  ye  have,  and  the  man  that  ye  most  love  in  the 
world,  and  the  sword  shall  be  your  destruction." 

"I  shall  take  the  adventure,"  said  Balin,  "that  God  will 
ordain  me,  but  the  sword  ye  shall  not  have  at  this  time, 
by  the  faith  of  my  body." 

"  Ye  shall  repent  it  within  short  time,"  said  the  damsel, 
"  for  I  would  have  the  sword  more  for  your  avail  than  for 
mine,  for  I  am  passing  heavy  for  your  sake ;  for  ye  will 
not  believe  that  sword  shall  be  your  destruction,  and  that 
is  great  pity."  With  that  the  damsel  departed,  making 
great  sorrow. 

Anon  after  Balin  sent  for  his  horse  and  his  armor,  and 
so  would  depart  from  the  court,  and  took  his  leave  of 
King  Arthur.  "  Nay,"  said  the  king,  "  I  suppose  ye  will 
not  depart  so  lightly  from  this  fellowship.  I  suppose  that 
ye  are  displeased  that  I  have  showed  you  unkindness ; 
blame  me  the  less,  for  I  was  misinformed  against  you,  but 
I  wend  [thought]  you  had  not  been  such  a  knight  as  ye 
are  of  worship  and  prowess,  and  if  ye  will  abide  in  this 
court  among  my  fellowship,  I  shall  so  advance  you  as  ye 
shall  be  pleased." 

"God  thank  your  highness,"  said  Balin,  "for  your 
bounty  and  highness  may  no  man  praise  half  to  the 
value ;  but  at  this  time  I  must  needs  depart,  beseeching 
you  alway  of  your  good  grace." 

"Truly,"  said  the  king,  "I  am  right  wroth  for  your 
departing  :  I  pray  you,  fair  knight,  that  ye  tarry  not  long, 
and  ye  shall  be  right  welcome  to  me  and  to  my  barons, 
and  I  shall  amend  all  amiss  that  I  have  done  against 
you." 

"God  thank  your  lordship,"  said  Balin,  and  therewith 
made  him  ready  to  depart.  Then  the  most  part  of  the 


22  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

knights  of  the  Round  Table  said  that  Balin  did  not  thi§ 
adventure  all  only  by  might,  but  by  witchcraft. 


CHAPTER   X. 
How  THE  LADY  OF  THE  LAKE  DEMANDED  THE  KNIGHT'S  HRAD  THAI 

HAD  WON  THE  SWORD,  OR  THE  MAIDEN'S  HEAD. 

THE  mean  while  that  this  knight  was  making  him 
ready  to  depart,  there  came  into  the  court  a  lady, 
which  hight  [was  named]  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  and 
she  came  on  horseback  richly  beseen,  and  saluted  King 
Arthur,  and  there  she  asked  him  a  gift  that  he  had  prom  - 
ised  her  when  she  gave  him  the  sword. 

"That  is  sooth"  [true],  said  King  Arthur,  "a  gift  I 
promised  you;  but  I  have  forgotten  the  name  of  the 
sword  which  ye  gave  me." 

"The  name  of  it,"  said  the  lady,  "is  Excalibur,  that  is 
as  much  to  say  as  cut-steel." 

"  Ye  say  well,"  said  King  Arthur,  "  ask  what  ye  will, 
and  ye  shall  have  it,  if  it  lie  in  my  power  to  give  it." 

"  Well,"  said  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  "  I  ask  the  head  of 
the  knight  that  hath  won  the  sword,  or  else  the  damsel's 
head  that  brought  it ;  and  though  I  have  both  their 
heads  I  force  [care]  not,  for  he  slew  my  brother,  a  full 
good  knight  and  a  true,  and  that  gentlewoman  was  causer 
of  my  father's  death." 

"Truly,"  said  King  Arthur,  "I  may  not  grant  you 
neither  of  their  heads  with  my  worship,  therefore  ask 
what  ye  will  else  and  I  shall  fulfil  your  desire." 

"  I  will  ask  none  other  thing  of  you,"  said  the  lady 


Of  King  Arthur.  23 

When  Balin  was  ready  to  depart  he  saw  the  Lady  of  the 
Lake  there,  by  whose  means  was  slain  his  own  mother, 
and  he  had  sought  her  three  years.  And  when  it  was 
told  him  that  she  demanded  his  head  of  King  Arthur,  he 
went  straight  to  her  and  said,  "  Evil  be  ye  found,  ye  would 
have  my  head,  and  therefore  ye  shall  lose  yours."  And 
with  his  sword  lightly  he  smote  off  her  head  before  King 
Arthur. 

"  Alas !  for  shame,"  said  Arthur,  "  why  have  you  done 
so  ?  ye  have  shamed  me  and  all  my  court,  for  this  was  a 
lady  that  I  was  beholden  to,  and  hither  she  came  under 
my  safe  conduct ;  I  shall  never  forgive  you  that  tres- 
pass." 

"  Sir,"  said  Balin,  '•  me  forthinketh  Igrievetk]  of  your 
displeasure,  for  this  same  lady  was  the  untruest  lady  liv- 
ing, and  by  enchantment  and  sorcery  she  hath  been  thft 
destroyer  of  many  good  knights,  and  she  was  causer 
that  my  mother  was  burnt  through  her  falsehood  and 
treachery." 

"  What  cause  so  ever  ye  had,"  said  Arthur,  "ye  should 
have  forborne  her  in  my  presence ;  therefore,  think  not 
the  contrary,  ye  shall  repent  it,  for  such  another  despite 
had  I  never  in  my  court :  therefore  withdraw  you  out  of 
my  court  in  all  haste  that  ye  may." 

Then  Balin  took  up  the  head  of  the  lady,  and  bare  it 
with  him  to  his  hostry  \hostelry,  inn],  and  there  he  met 
with  his  squire,  that  was  sorry  he  had  displeased  King 
Arthur,  and  so  they  rode  forth  out  of  the  town. 

"  Now,"  said  Balin,  "  we  must  part ;  take  thou  this  head 
and  bear  it  to  my  friends,  and  tell  them  how  I  have  sped, 
and  tell  my  friends  in  Northumberland  that  my  most  foe 
is  dead.  Also  tell  them  how  I  am  out  of  prison,  and  also 
what  adventure  befell  me  at  the  getting  of  this  sword." 


24  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"  Alas,"  said  the  squire,  "  ye  are  greatly  to  blame  for  to 
displease  King  Arthur." 

"As  for  that,"  said  Balin,  "  I  will  hie  me  in  all  the  haste 
that  I  may,  to  meet  with  King  Ryence  and  destroy  him, 
or  else  to  die  therefore ;  and  if  it  may  hap  me  to  win  him, 
then  will  King  Arthur  be  my  good  and  gracious  lord." 

"Where  shall  I  meet  with  you ? "  said  the  squire. 

"In  King  Arthur's  court,"  said  Balin. 

So  his  squire  and  he  departed  at  that  time.  Then 
King  Arthur  and  all  the  court  made  great  dole,  and  had 
shame  of  the  death  of  the  Lady  of  the  Lake.  Then  the 
king  buried  her  richly. 


CHAPTER   XL 

How  MERLIN  TOLD  THE  ADVENTURE  OF  THE  DAMSEL. 

AT  that  time  there  was  in  King  Arthur's  court  a 
knight  that  was  the  king's  son  of  Ireland,1  and  his 
name  was  Lanceor,  and  he  was  a  proud  knight,  and  he 
counted  himself  one  of  the  best  knights  of  the  court, 
and  he  had  great  spite  at  Balin  for  the  achieving  of  the 
sword,  that  any  should  be  accounted  of  more  prowess 
than  he  was ;  and  he  asked  King  Arthur  if  he  would  give 
him  leave  to  ride  after  Balin  and  to  revenge  the  despite 
that  he  hath  done.  "Do  your  best,"  said  King  Arthur, 
"  for  I  am  right  wroth  with  Balin  ;  I  would  he  were  quite 
[quit,  acquitted}  of  the  despite  that  he  hath  done  to  me 
and  to  my  court." 

Then  this  Lanceor  went  to  his  hostrie  to  make  him 
ready.     In  the  mean  while  came  Merlin  to  King  Arthur's 

1  "  The  king's  son  of  Ireland,"  the  king  of  Ireland's  son. 


Of  King  Arthur.  25 

court,  and  there  it  was  told  him  of  the  adventure  of 
the  sword,  and  of  the  Lady  of  the  Lake. 

"Now  shall  I  say  to  you,"  said  Merlin,  "this  damsel 
that  here  standeth,  that  brought  the  sword  unto  your 
court,  I  shall  tell  you  the  cause  of  her  coming,  she  is  the 
falsest  damsel  that  liveth." 

"Say  not  so,"  said  they,  "she  hath  a  brother  a  passing 
good  knight  of  prowess  and  a  full  true  man,  aid  this 
damsel  loved  another,  and  this  good  knight  her  brother 
met  with  the  knight,  and  slew  him  by  force  of  his  hands." 

When  this  damsel  understood  this,  she  went  to  the  lady 
Lyle  of  Avalon,  and  besought  her  of  help  to  be  avenged 
on  her  brother. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

How  BALIN  WAS  PURSUED  BY  SIR  LANCEOR,  A  KNIGHT  OF  IRELAND, 
AND  HOW  BALIN  SLEW  HIM. 

SO  the  knight  of  Ireland  armed  him  at  all  points,  and 
dressed  his  shield  on  his  shoulder  and  mounted  upon 
horseback,  and  took  his  spear  in  his  hand,  and  rode  after 
as  fast  as  his  horse  could  run,  and  within  a  little  space  on 
a  mountain  he  had  a  sight  of  Balin,  and  with  a  loud  voice 
he  cried  to  him  and  said :  "  Abide,  knight,  for  ye  shall 
abide  whether  ye  will  or  will  not,  and  the  shield  that  is 
tofore  you  shall  not  help  you." 

When  Balin  heard  that  noise,  he  turned  his  horse 
fiercely,  and  said,  "  Fair  knight,  what  will  you  with  me, 
will  ye  joust  with  me  ?  " 

"Yea,"  said  the  Irish  knight,  "therefore  am  I  come 
after  you." 


26  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"  Peradventure,"  said  Balin,  "  it  had  been  better  to  have 
holden  you  at  home,  for  many  a  man  weeneth  [tkinketk] 
to  put  his  enemy  to  a  rebuke,  and  often  it  falleth  to  him- 
self. Of  what  court  be  ye  sent  fro  [from]  ?  " 

"  I  am  come  fro  the  court  of  King  Arthur,"  said  the 
knight  of  Ireland,  "  that  come  hither  for  to  revenge  the 
despite  ye  did  this  day  to  King  Arthur  and  to  his  court." 

"  Well,"  said  Balin,  "  I  see  well  I  must  have  ado  with 
you,  that  me  forthinketh  [grievetk]  for  to  grieve  King 
Arthur,  or  any  of  his  court ;  and  your  quarrel  is  full 
simple,"  said  Balin,  "  for  the  lady  that  is  dead  did  great 
damage,  and  else  I  would  have  been  as  loth  as  any  knight 
that  liveth  for  to  slay  a  lady." 

"  Make  you  ready,"  said  the  knight  Lanceor,  "  and 
dress  you  to  me,  for  one  of  us  shall  abide  in  the  field." 

Then  they  took  their  spears  in  aQ  the  haste  they  might, 
and  came  together  as  fast  as  their  horses  might  drive,  and 
the  king's  son  of  Ireland  smote  Balin  upon  his  shield, 
that  his  spear  went  all  to  shivers.  And  Balin  smote  him 
with  such  a  might  that  it  went  through  his  shield,  and 
perished  [pierced]  the  hauberk,  and  so  pierced  through 
his  body  and  the  horse's  croupe  [crupper],  and  Balin  anon 
turned  his  horse  fiercely,  and  drew  out  his  sword,  and 
wist  not  that  he  had  slain  him,  and  then  he  saw  him  lie 
as  a  dead  corpse. 


Of  King  Arthur.  27 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

How  A  DAMSEL  WHICH  WAS  IN  LOVE  WITH  LANCEOR,  SLEW  HERSELF 

FOR  HIS  LOVE,  AND  HOW  BALIN  MET  WITH  HIS  BROTHER  BALAN. 

THEN  he  looked  by  him  and  was  ware  of  a  damsel 
that  came  riding  as  fast  as  her  horse  might  gallop, 
upon  a  fair  palfrey ;  and  when  she  espied  that  Sir  Lanceor 
was  slain,  then  she  made  sorrow  out  of  measure,  and  said, 
"  O  Balin,  two  bodies  hast  thou  slain,  and  one  heart,  and 
two  hearts  in  one  body,  and  two  souls  thou  hast  lost." 

And  therewith  she  took  the  sword  from  her  love  that  lay 
dead,  and  as  she  took  it  she  fell  to  the  ground  in  a  swoon, 
and  when  she  arose  she  made  great  dole  out  of  measure, 
which  sorrow  grieved  Balin  passing  sore,  and  went  to  her 
for  to  have  taken  the  sword  out  of  her  hands,  but  she 
held  it  so  fast,  that  in  no  wise  he  might  take  the  sword 
out  of  her  hands,  but  if  he  should  have  hurt  her ;  and  sud- 
denly she  set  the  pommel  of  the  sword  to  the  ground  and 
run  herself  through  the  body.  And  when  Balin  saw  her 
dead,  he  was  passing  heavy  in  his  heart,  and  ashamed  that 
so  fair  a  damsel  had  destroyed  herself  for  the  love  of  him. 

"Alas,"  said  Balin,  "me  repenteth  sore  the  death  of 
this  knight  for  the  love  of  this  damsel,  for  there  was  much 
true  love  betwixt  them  both." 

And  for  sorrow  he  might  no  longer  hold  him,  but  turned 
his  horse  and  looked  towards  a  great  forest,  and  there  he 
was  ware,  by  the  arms,  of  his  brother  Balan.  And  when 
they  were  met  they  put  off  their  helms  and  kissed  to- 
gether, and  wept  for  joy  and  pity.  Then  Balan  said,  "I 
little  wend  to  have  met  with  you  at  this  sudden  ad- 
venture ;  I  am  right  glad  of  your  deliverance  out  of  your 


28  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

dolorous  prisonment,  for  a  man  told  me  in  the  Castle  of 
Four  Stones  that  ye  were  delivered,  and  that  man  had 
seen  you  in  the  court  of  King  Arthur,  and  therefore  I 
came  hither  into  this  country,  for  here  I  supposed  to  find 
you." 

Anon  the  knight  Balin  told  his  brother  of  his  adventure 
of  the  sword,  and  of  the  death  of  the  Lady  of  the  Lake, 
and  how  King  Arthur  was  displeased  with  him  :  "  Where- 
fore he  sent  this  knight  after  me  that  lieth  here  dead ; 
and  the  death  of  this  damsel  grieveth  me  sore." 

"So  doth  it  me,"  said  Balan,  "but  ye  must  take  the 
adventure  that  God  will  ordain  you." 

"Truly,"  said  Balin,  "I  am  right  heavy  that  my  lord 
Arthur  is  displeased  with  me,  for  he  is  the  most  worship- 
ful knight  that  reigneth  now  on  earth,  and  his  love  I  will 
get  or  else  I  will  put  my  life  in  adventure ;  for  the  King 
Ryence  lieth  at  a  siege  at  the  castle  Terrabil,  and  thither 
will  we  draw  in  all  haste,  to  prove  our  worship  and  prowess 
upon  him." 

"  I  will  well,"  said  Balan,  "  that  we  do,  and  we  will  help 
each  other  as  brethren  ought  to  do." 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

How  A  DWARF  REPROVED  BALIN  FOR  THE  DEATH  OF  LANCEOR,  AND 
HOW  KING  MARK  OF  CORNWALL  FOUND  THEM,  AND  MADE  A  TOMB 
OVER  THEM. 

"QROTHER,"  said  Balin,  "let  us  go  hence,  and  well  be 
J3  we  met." 

The  mean  while  as  they  talked,  there  came  a  dwarf 
from  the  city  of  Camelot  on  horseback  as  fast  as  he  might, 


Of  King  Arthur.  29 

and  found  the  dead  bodies,  wherefore  he  made  great  dole, 
and  drew  his  hair  for  sorrow,  and  said,  "Which  of  you 
knights  hath  done  this  deed  ? " 

"  Whereby  askest  thou  it  ? "  said  Balm. 

"  For  I  would  wit "  \know\  said  the  dwarf. 

"  It  was  I,"  said  Balin,  "  that  slew  this  knight  in  my 
defence,  for  hither  came  he  to  chase  me,  and  either  I 
must  slay  him  or  he  me,  and  this  damsel  slew  herself  for 
his  love,  which  me  sore  repenteth,  and  for  her  sake  I 
shall  owe  all  women  the  better  love  and  favor." 

"  Alasr"  said  the  dwarf,  "  thou  hast  done  great  damage 
unto  thyself  for  this  knight  that  is  here  dead  was  one  of 
the  most  valiantest  men  that  lived,  and  trust  thou  well, 
Balin,  that  the  kin  of  this  knight  will  chase  thee  through 
the  world  till  they  have  slain  thee." 

"  As  for  that,"  said  Balin,  "  I  fear  it  not  greatly ;  but  I 
am  right  heavy  because  I  have  displeased  my  sovereign 
lord  King  Arthur,  for  the  death  of  this  knight." 

So,  as  they  talked  together,  there  came  a  king  of  Corn 
wall  riding  by  them,  which  was  named  King  Mark,  and 
when  he  saw  these  two  bodies  dead  and  understood  how 
they  were  dead  by  one  of  the  two  knights  above  said, 
then  made  King  Mark  great  sorrow  for  the  true  love  that 
was  between  them,  and  said :  "  I  will  not  depart  from 
hence  till  I  have  on  this  earth  made  a  tomb." 

And  there  he  pight  [pitched]  his  pavilions,  and  sought 
through  all  the  country  to  find  a  tomb,  and  in  a  church 
they  found  one  [that]  was  fair  and  rich,  and  there  the 
king  let  put  them  both  in  the  earth,  and  put  the  tomb 
upon  them,  and  wrote  the  names  of  them  both  on  the 
tomb :  how  here  lieth  Lanceor  the  king's  son  of  Ireland 
that  at  his  own  request  was  slain  by  the  hands  of  Balin, 
and  how  his  lady  Colombe  slew  herself  with  her  love's 
sword  for  dole  and  sorrow. 


3O  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

How  MERLIN  PROPHESIED  THAT  BALIN  SHOULD  STRIKE  THE  DOLOIOUI 

STROKE. 

THEN]  said  Merlin  [to  Balin]  "because  of  the  death 
of  that  lady,  thou  shalt  strike  a  stroke  the  most 
dolorous  that  ever  man  stroke,  except  the  stroke  of  our 
Lord ;  for  thou  shalt  hurt  the  truest  knight  and  the  man 
of  the  most  worship  that  now  liveth,  and  through  that 
stroke  three  kingdoms  shall  be  in  great  poverty,  misery, 
and  wretchedness  twelve  years,  and  the  knight  shall  not 
be  whole  of  that  wound  in  many  years."  And  then 
Merlin  took  his  leave  of  Balin. 

Then  said  Balin,  "  If  I  wist  [knew]  that  it  were  sooth 
[true]  that  ye  say,  I  should  do  such  a  perilous  deed  as 
that  I  would  slay  myself  to  make  thee  a  liar." 

And  therewith  anon  Merlin  suddenly  vanished  away. 
Then  Balin  and  his  brother  took  their  leave  of  King 
Mark. 

"  First,"  said  the  king,  "  tell  me  your  name." 

"Sir,"  said  Balan,  "ye  may  see  he  beareth  two  swords, 
thereby  ye  may  call  him  the  knight  with  the  two  swords." 

And  so  departed  King  Mark,  and  rode  to  Camelot  to 
King  Arthur,  and  Balin  and  his  brother  took  the  way  to 
King  Ryence,  and  as  they  rode  together  they  met  with 
Merlin  disguised,  but  they  knew  him  not. 

"  Whither  ride  ye  ? "  said  Merlin. 

"We  have  little  to  do,"  said  the  two  knights,  "for  to 
tell  thee  ;  but  what  is  thy  name  ? "  said  Balin. 

"As  at  this  time,"  said  Merlin,  " I  wi'J  not  tell  thee." 

"It  is  full  evil  seen,"  said  the  two  knights,  "that  thou 
art  a  true  man,  when  thou  wilt  not  tell  thy  name." 


Of  King  Arthur.  31 

"  As  for  that/'  said  Merlin,  "  be  it  as  it  may,  but  I  can 
tell  you  wherefore  ye  ride  this  way,  for  to  meet  King 
Ryence,  but  it  will  not  avail  you  without  you  have  my 
counsel." 

"Ah!"  said  Balin,  "ye  are  Merlin.  We  will  be  ruled 
by  your  counsel." 

"Come  on,"  said  Merlin,  "ye  shall  have  great  worship, 
and  look  that  ye  do  knightly,  for  ye  shall  have  great 
need." 

"As  for  that,"  said  Balin,  "dread  ye  not,  we  will  do 
what  we  may." 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

How  BALIN  AND  HIS  BROTHER  BY  THE  COUNSEL   OF   MERLIN   TOOK 
KING  RYENCE,  AND  BROUGHT  HIM  TO  KING  ARTHUR. 

THEN  Merlin  lodged  them  in  a  wood  among  leaves 
beside  the  highway,  and  took  off  the  bridles  of  their 
horses  and  put  them  to  grass,  and  laid  them  down  to  rest 
them  till  it  was  nigh  midnight.  Then  Merlin  bade  them 
rise  and  make  them  ready,  for  the  king  was  nigh  them, 
that  was  stolen  away  from  his  host  with  a  threescore  horses 
of  his  best  knights,  and  twenty  of  them  rode  tofore,  to 
warn  the  lady  that  the  king  was  coming. 

"Which  is  the  king?"  said  Balin. 

"  Abide,"  said  Merlin,  "  here  in  a  straight  way  ye  shall 
meet  with  him  ; "  and  therewith  he  showed  Balin  and  his 
brother  where  he  rode.  Anon  Balin  and  his  brother  met 
%>ith  the  king,  and  smote  him  down,  and  wounded  him 
fiercely,  and  laid  him  to  the  ground,  and  there  they  slew 
on  the  right  hand  and  the  left  hand,  and  slew  more  than 
forty  of  his  men  ;  and  the  remnant  fled.  Then  went  they 


32  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

again  to  King  Ryence,  and  would  have  slain  him  had  he 
not  yielded  him  unto  their  grace. 

Then  said  he  thus :  "  Knights  full  of  prowess,  slay  me 
not,  for  by  my  life  ye  may  win,  and  by  my  death  ye  shall 
win  nothing." 

Then  said  these  two  knights,  "  Ye  say  sooth  and  truth  ; " 
and  so  laid  him  on  an  horse-litter.  With  that  Merlin  was 
vanished,  and  came  to  King  Arthur  aforehand,  and  told 
him  how  his  most  enemy  was  taken  and  discomfited. 

"  By  whom  ? "  said  King  Arthur. 

"By  two  knights,"  said  Merlin,  "that  would  please 
your  lordship,  and  to-morrow  ye  shall  know  what  knights 
they  are." 

Anon  after  came  the  knight  with  the  two  swords,  and 
Balan  his  brother,  and  brought  with  them  King  Ryence 
of  North  Wales,  and  there  delivered  him  to  the  porters, 
and  charged  them  with  him ;  and  so  they  two  returned 
again  in  the  springing  of  the  day. 

King  Arthur  came  then  to  King  Ryence  and  said, 
"  Sir  king,  ye  are  welcome :  by  what  adventure  come  ye 
hither?" 

"Sir,"  said  King  Ryence,  "I  came  hither  by  an  hard 
adventure." 

"  Who  won  you  ? "  said  King  Arthur. 

"Sir,"  said  the  king,  "the  knight  with  the  two  swords 
and  his  brother,  which  are  two  marvellous  knights  of 
prowess. 

"  I  know  them  not,"  said  Arthur,  "  but  much  I  am  be- 
holden to  them." 

"Ah,"  said  Merlin,  "I  shall  tell  you,  it  is  Balin  that 
achieved  the  sword,  and  his  brother  Balan,  a  good  knight, 
there  liveth  not  a  better  of  prowess  and  of  worthiness ; 
and  it  shall  be  the  greatest  dole  of  him  that  ever  I  knew 
of  knight,  for  he  shall  not  long  ensure  v 


Of  King  Arthur.  33 

"Alas,"  said  King  Arthur,  "that  is  great  pity,  for  I  am 
much  beholden  unto  him,  and  I  have  ill  deserved  it  unto 
him  for  his  kindness." 

"  Nay,"  said  Merlin,  "  he  shall  do  much  more  for  you, 
and  that  shall  ye  know  in  haste.  But,  Sir,  are  ye  pur- 
veyed ? "  said  Merlin ;  "  for  to-morn  the  host  of  Nero, 
King  Ryence's  brother,  will  set  on  you  or  [ere,  before] 
noon  with  a  great  host,  and  therefore  make  you  ready,  for 
I  will  depart  from  you." 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

How  KING  ARTHUR  HAD  A  BATTLE  AGAINST  NERO  AND  KING   Lor. 
AND  HOW  TWELVE  KINGS  WERE  SLAIN. 

THEN  came  Nero  to  Castle  Terrabil  with  a  mighty 
host,  for  he  had  ten  battles,  [battalions,  or  divisions} 
with  much  more  people  than  King  Arthur  had.  So  Nero 
himself  had  the  vaward  [va-iuard,  van-guard]  with  the 
most  part  of  his  people ;  and  Merlin  came  to  King  Lot, 
of  the  Isle  of  the  Orkney,  and  held  him  with  a  tale 
of  prophecy  till  Nero  and  his  people  were  destroyed. 
And  there  Sir  Kay  the  seneschal  did  passing  well,  that 
all  the  days  of  his  life  he  had  thereof  worship.  And  Sii 
Hervis  de  Revel  did  marvellous  deeds  with  King  Arthur. 
And  King  Arthur  slew  that  day  twenty  knights,  and 
maimed  forty.  At  that  time  came  in  the  knight  with  the 
two  swords,  and  his  brother  Balan  ;  but  they  two  did  so 
marvellously  that  the  king  and  all  the  knights  had  great 
marvel  thereof,  and  all  that  beheld  them  said  that  they 
were  sent  from  heaven  as  angels,  or  as  devils  from  hell ; 
and  King  Arthur  said  himself  that  they  were  the  best 


34  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

knights  that  ever  he  saw,  for  they  gave  such  strokes  that 
all  men  had  wonder  of  them.  In  the  mean  while  came 
one  to  King  Lot,  and  told  him  that  while  he  tarried  there 
Nero  was  destroyed  and  slain  with  all  his  people. 

"  Alas !  I  am  shamed/*  said  King  Lot,  "  for  through  my 
default  is  slain  many  a  worshipful  man  ;  for  if  we  had 
been  together  there  had  been  no  host  under  heaven  that 
had  been  able  to  match  us.  This  [deceiver]  with  his 
prophecy  hath  mocked  me." 

All  that  did  Merlin,  for  he  knew  well  that  if  King  Lot 
had  been  there  with  his  body  at  the  first  battle,  King 
Arthur  and  all  his  people  should  have  been  destroyed 
and  slain.  And  Merlin  knew  well  that  one  of  the  kings 
should  be  dead  that  day,  and  loth  was  Merlin  that  any  of 
them  both  should  be  slain ;  but  of  the  twain  he  had  liever 
King  Lot  had  been  slain  than  King  Arthur. 

"  Now,  what  is  best  to  do,"  said  King  Lot,  "  whether  is 
it  better  for  to  treat  with  King  Arthur,  or  to  fight,  for 
the  most  part  of  our  people  are  slain  and  destroyed  ? " 

"Sir,"  said  a  knight,  "set  upon  King  Arthur,  for  he 
and  his  men  are  weary  of  fighting,  and  we  be  fresh." 

"  As  for  me,"  said  King  Lot,  "  I  would  that  every 
knight  would  do  his  part  as  I  will  do  mine." 

And  then  they  advanced  their  banners  and  smote  to- 
gether, and  all  to-shivered  [shivered  all  to  pieces}  their 
spears ;  and  King  Arthur's  knights,  with  the  help  of  the 
knight  with  the  two  swords  and  his  brother  Balan,  put 
King  Lot  and  his  host  to  the  worst ;  but  alway  King 
Lot  held  him  in  the  foremost,  and  did  great  deeds  of  arms, 
for  all  his  host  was  borne  up  by  his  hands,  for  he  abode 
and  withstood  all  knights.  Alas !  he  might  not  ever 
endure,  the  which  was  great  pity  that  so  worthy  a  knight 
as  he  was  should  be  over-matched,  and  that  of  late  time 


Of  King  Arthur.  35 

afore  had  been  a  knight  of  King  Arthur's,  and  had 
wedded  King  Arthur's  sister.  So  there  was  a  knight 
that  was  called  the  knight  with  the  strange  beast,  and  at 
that  time  his  right  name  was  Pellinore,  which  was  a  good 
man  of  prowess,  and  he  smote  a  mighty  stroke  at  King 
Lot  as  he  fought  with  his  enemies,  and  he  failed  of  his 
stroke,  and  smote  the  horse's  neck  that  he  fell  to  the 
ground  with  King  Lot,  and  therewith  anon  Sir  Pellinore 
smote  him  a  great  stroke  through  the  helm,  and  hewed 
him  to  the  brows.  And  then  all  the  host  of  Orkney  fled 
for  the  death  of  King  Lot,  and  there  was  slain  many  a 
mother's  son.  But  King  Pellinore  bare  the  wit  \blame\ 
of  the  death  of  King  Lot;  wherefore  Sir  Gawaine  re- 
venged the  death  of  his  father  the  tenth  year  after  he  was 
made  knight,  and  slew  King  Pellinore  with  his  own  hands. 
Also  there  was  slain  at  the  battle  twelve  kings  on  King 
Lot's  side  with  Nero,  and  all  were  buried  in  the  church 
of  Saint  Stevens,  in  Camelot ;  and  the  remnant  of  knights 
and  of  other  were  buried  in  a  great  rock. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

OF  THE  INTERMENT  OF  TWELVE   KINGS,  AND  OF  THE   PROPHECY  of 
MERLIN,  AND  HOW  BALIN  SHOULD  GIVE  THE  DOLOROUS  STROKE. 

SO  at  the  entertainment  [interment)  that  is,  burial} 
came  King  Lot's  wife  Morgause,  with  her  four  sons 
Gawaine,  Agravaine,  Gaheris,  and  Gareth.  Also  there 
came  thither  King  Urience,  Sir  Ewaine's  father,  and 
Morgan  le  Fay  his  wife,  that  was  King  Arthur's  sister. 
All  these  came  to  the  interment.  But  of  all  these 
twelve  kings  King  Arthur  let  make  the  tomb  of  King 


36  The  Boy's  King  Arthur 

Lot  passing  richly,  and  made  his  tomb  by  his  own ;  and 
then  King  Arthur  let  make  twelve  images  of  laton  {brass'} 
and  copper,  and  over-gilt  it  with  gold,  in  the  sign  of 
twelve  kings,  and  each  one  of  them  held  a  taper  of  wax 
that  burnt  day  and  night :  and  King  Arthur  was  made  in 
sign  of  a  figure  standing  above  them  with  a  sword  drawn 
in  his  hand :  and  all  the  twelve  figures  had  countenance 
like  unto  men  that  were  overcome.  All  this  made  Merlin 
by  his  subtle  craft ;  and  there  he  told  the  king,  "When  I 
am  dead  these  tapers  shall  burn  no  longer;  and  soon 
after  the  adventures  of  the  Sangreal I  shall  come  among 
you  and  be  achieved." 

Also  he  told  Arthur  how  Balin  the  worshipful  knight 
shall  give  the  Dolorous  Stroke,  whereof  shall  fall  great 
vengeance. 

"O  where  is  Balin,  and  Balan,  and  Pellinore?"  said 
King  Arthur. 

"  As  for  Pellinore,"  said  Merlin,  "  he  will  meet  with  you 
soon  :  and  as  for  Balin,  he  will  not  be  long  from  you :  but 
the  other  brother  will  depart ;  ye  shall  see  him  no  more." 

"  By  my  faith,"  said  Arthur,  "  they  are  two  marvellous 
knights,  and  namely  Balin  passeth  of  prowess  of  any 
knight  that  ever  I  found,  for  much  beholden  am  I  unto 
him ;  would  that  he  would  abide  with  me." 

"Sir,"  said  Merlin,  "look  ye  keep  well  the  scabbard  of 
Excalibur,  for  ye  shall  lose  no  blood  while  ye  have  the 
scabbard  upon  you,  though  ye  have  as  many  wounds  upon 
you  as  ye  may  have." 

So  after,  for  great  trust  Arthur  betook  the  scabbard  to 
Morgan  le  Fay  his  sister,  and  she  loved  another  knight 

1  "  Sangreal,"  the  Saint  Grailt  or  Holy  Cup,  said  to  have  held  the  blood 
of  Jesus  and  to  have  been  brought  away  from  the  Cross  by  Joseph  of 
Arimathea. 


EAJA  YOGA  ACADEil 
ToAiit  Loina  Gal. 

Of  King  Arthur, 


better  than  her  husband  King  Urience  or  King  Arthur, 
and  she  would  have  had  Arthur  her  brother  slain,  and 
therefore  she  let  make  another  scabbard  like  it  by  en- 
chantment, and  gave  the  scabbard  of  Excalibur  to  her 
love.  And  the  knight's  name  was  called  Accolon,  that 
after  had  near  slain  King  Arthur.  After  this  Merlin  told 
unto  King  Arthur  of  the  prophecy  that  there  should  be  a 
great  battle  beside  Salisbury,  and  that  Mordred  his  sister'i 
son  should  be  against  him. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

How  A  SORROWFUL  KNIGHT  CAME  BEFORE  KING  ARTHUR,  AND  HOW 
BALIN  FETCHED  HIM,  AND  HOW  THAT  KNIGHT  WAS  SLAIN  BY  A 
KNIGHT  INVISIBLE. 

WITHIN  a  day  or  two  King  Arthur  was  somewhat 
sick,  and  he  let  pitch  his  pavilion  in  a  meadow, 
and  there  he  laid  him  down  on  a  pallet  to  sleep,  but  he 
might  have  no  rest.  Right  so  he  heard  a  great  noise  of 
an  horse,  and  therewith  the  king  looked  out  at  the  porch 
of  the  pavilion,  and  saw  a  knight  coming  even  by  him 
making  great  dole. 

"Abide,  fair  sir,"  said  Arthur,  "and  tell  me  wherefore 
thou  makest  this  sorrow  ? " 

"Ye  may  little  amend  me,"  said  the  knight,  and  so 
passed  forth  to  the  castle  of  Meliot. 

Anon  after  there  came  Balin,  and  when  he  saw  King 
Arthur  he  alight  off  his  horse,  and  came  to  the  king  on 
foot,  and  saluted  him. 

"  By  my  head,"  said  Arthur,  "  ye  be  welcome.  91 . 
right  now  came  riding  this  way  a  knight  making  great 


38  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

moan,  for  what  cause  I  cannot  tell,  wherefore  I  would 
desire  of  you  of  your  courtesy  and  of  your  gentleness  to 
fetch  again  that  knight  either  by  force  or  else  by  his 
good-will." 

"  I  will  do  more  for  your  lordship  than  that,"  said  Balin  : 
and  so  he  rode  more  than  a  pace,  and  found  the  knight 
with  a  damsel  in  a  forest,  and  said,  "  Sir  knight,  ye  must 
come  with  me  unto  King  Arthur,  for  to  tell  him  of  your 
sorrow." 

"That  will  I  not,"  said  the  knight,  "for  it  will  scathe 
me  greatly,  and  do  you  none  avail." 

"Sir,"  said  Balin,  "I  pray  you  make  you  ready,  for  ye 
must  go  with  me,  or  else  I  must  fight  with  you  and  bring 
you  by  force,  and  that  were  me  loth  to  do." 

"Will  ye  be  my  warrant,"  said  the  knight,  "and  I  go 
with  you  ? " 

"Yea,"  said  Balin,  "or  else  I  will  die  therefore." 

And  so  he  made  him  ready  to  go  with  Balin,  and  left 
the  damsel  still.  And  as  they  were  afore  King  Arthur's 
pavilion  there  came  one  invisible,  and  smote  this  knight 
that  went  with  Balin  throughout  the  body  with  a  spear. 

"  Alas  !  "  said  the  knight,  "  I  am  slain  under  your  con- 
duct and  guard  with  a  traitorous  knight  called  Garlon ; 
therefore  take  my  horse  the  which  is  better  than  yours, 
and  ride  to  the  damsel,  and  follow  the  quest  that  I  was  in 
where  as  she  will  lead  you,  and  revenge  my  death  when 
ye  may  best." 

"That  shall  I  do,"  said  Balin,  "and  thereof  I  make  a 
vow  to  you,  by  my  knighthood." 

And  so  he  departed  from  this  knight,  making  great 
sorrow.  So  King  Arthur  let  bury  this  knight  richly,  and 
made  a  inention  upon  the  tomb,  how  there  was  slain  Her- 
leus  le  Berbeus,  and  also  how  the  treachery  was  done  by 


Of  King  Arthur.  39 

the  knight  Garlon.  But  ever  the  damsel  bare  the  trun- 
cheon of  the  spear  with  her,  that  Sir  Herleus  was  slain 
withal. 


CHAPTER  XX.    . 

How  THE  DAMSEL  BLED  FOR  THE  CUSTOM  OF  A  CASTLE. 

AND  anon  after  this,  Balin  and  the  damsel  rode  till 
they  came  to  a  castle,  and  there  Balin  alighted,  and 
he  and  the  damsel  wend  to  have  gone  into  the  castle. 
And  anon  as  Balin  came  within  the  castle  gate,  the  port- 
cullis fell  down  at  his  back,  and  there  came  many  men 
about  the  damsel,  and  would  have  slain  her.  And  when 
Balin  saw  that,  he  was  sore  grieved,  because  he  might  not 
help  the  damsel.  And  then  he  went  upon  the  walls  and 
leapt  over  into  the  ditch  and  hurt  him  not,  and  anon  he 
pulled  out  his  sword  and  would  have  foughten  with  them. 
And  then  all  said  they  would  not  fight  with  him,  for  they 
did  nothing  but  the  old  custom  of  the  castle,  and  told  him 
how  their  lady  was  sick,  and  had  lain  many  years,  and 
she  might  not  be  whole  but  if  she  had  a  silver  dish  full 
of  blood  of  a  maid  and  a  king's  daughter ;  and  therefore 
the  custom  of  this  castle  is  that  there  shall  none  pass 
this  way  but  that  she  shall  bleed  of  her  blood  a  silver 
dish  full. 

"Well,"  said  Balin,  "she  shall  bleed  as  much  as  she 
may  bleed,  but  I  will  not  that  she  leese  [lose]  her  life 
while  my  life  lasteth." 

And  so  Balin  made  her  to  bleed  by  her  good  wilL  But 
her  blood  helped  not  the  lady. 


4O  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

How  BALIN  MET  WITH  THE  KNIGHT  NAMED  GARLON  AT  A  FEAST,  AND 
THERE  HE  SLEW  HIM  TO  HAVE  HIS  BLOOD  TO  HEAL  THEREWITH  THB 
SON  OF  HIS  HOST. 


they  rode  three  or  four  days,  and  never  met 
with  adventure  ;  and  by  hap  they  were  lodged  with 
a  gentleman  that  was  a  rich  man  and  well  at  ease.  And 
as  they  sat  at  their  supper,  Balin  heard  one  complain 
grievously  by  him  in  a  chair. 

"What  is  this  noise  ?"  said  Balin. 

"  Forsooth,'1  said  his  host,  "  I  will  tell  you.  I  was  but 
late  at  a  jousting,  and  there  I  jousted  with  a  knight  that 
is  brother  unto  King  Pellam,  and  twice  smote  I  him  down  ; 
and  then  he  promised  to  quit  [fay\  me  on  my  best  friend, 
and  so  he  wounded  my  son,  that  cannot  be  whole  till  I 
have  of  that  knight's  blood,  a^d  he  rideth  alway  invisible, 
but  I  know  not  his  name." 

"Ah,"  said  Balin,  "I  know  that  knight,  his  name  is 
Garlon,  he  hathi  slain  two  knights  of  mine  in  the  same 
manner,  therefore  I  had  rather  meet  with  that  knight 
than  all  the  gold  in  this  realm,  for  the  despite  he  hath 
done  me." 

"Well,"  said  his  host,  "I  shall  tell  you,  King  Pellam  of 
Listeneise  hath  made  cry  in  all  this  country  a  great  feast 
that  shall  be  within  these  twenty  days,  and  no  knight  may 
come  there  but  if  he  bring  his  wife  with  him,  or  his  love  ; 
and  that  knight,  your  enemy  and  mine,  ye  shall  see  that 
day." 

"Then  I  promise  you,"  said  Balin,  "part  of  his  blood 
to  heal  your  son  withal." 


Of  King  Arthur.  41 

"  We  will  be  forward  to-morrow,"  said  his  host. 

So  on  the  morn  they  rode  all  three  toward  Pellam,  and 
they  had  fifteen  days'  journey  or  [ere]  they  came  thither ; 
and  that  same  day  began  the  great  feast.  And  so  they 
alight  and  stabled  their  horses,  and  went  into  the  castle ; 
but  Balin's  host  might  not  be  let  in  because  he  had  no 
lady.  Then  Balin  was  well  received,  and  brought  unto  a 
chamber  and  unarmed  him,  and  they  brought  him  robes 
to  his  pleasure,  and  would  have  had  Balin  leave  his  sword 
behind  him. 

"  Nay,"  said  Balin,  "  that  do  I  not,  for  it  is  the  custom 
of  my  country  a  knight  alway  to  keep  his  weapon  with 
him,  and  that  custom  will  I  keep,  or  else  I  will  depart  as 
I  came." 

Then  they  gave  him  leave  to  wear  his  sword,  and  so 
he  went  unto  the  castle,  and  was  set  among  knights  of 
worship,  and  his  lady  afore  him.  Soon  Balin  asked  a 
knight,  "  Is  there  not  a  knight  in  this  court  whose  name 
is  Garlon  ? " 

"  Yonder  he  goeth,"  said  a  knight,  "  he  with  the  black 
face ;  he  is  the  marvellest  knight  that  is  now  living,  for 
he  destroyeth  many  good  knights,  for  he  goeth  invisible/' 

"Ah,  well,"  said  Balin,  "is  that  he?" 

Then  Balin  advised  him  long :  —  "If  I  slay  him  here 
I  shall  not  escape,  and  if  I  leave  him  now  perad venture  I 
shall  never  meet  with  him  again  at  such  a  good  [time], 
and  much  harm  he  will  do  and  [if]  he  live." 

Therewith  this  Garlon  espied  that  this  Balin  beheld 
him,  and  then  he  came  and  smote  Balin  on  the  face  with 
the  back  of  his  hand,  and  said,  "  Knight,  why  beholdest 
thou  me  so?  for  shame,  therefore,  eat  thy  meat,  and  do 
that  thou  came  for." 

"Thou  sayest  sooth,"  said  Balin,  "this  is  not  the  first 


42  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

despite  that  thou  hast  done  me,  and  therefore  I  will  do 
that  I  came  for ; "  and  rose  up  fiercely,  and  clave  his  head 
to  the  shoulders. 

"Give  me  the  truncheon,"  said  Balin  to  his  lady, 
"wherewith  he  slew  your  knight." 

Anon  she  gave  it  him,  for  alway  she  bare  the  truncheon 
with  her;  and  therewith  Balin  smote  him  through  the 
body,  and  said  openly,  "  With  that  truncheon  thou  hast 
slain  a  good  knight,  and  now  it  sticketh  in  thy  body." 

And  then  Balin  called  to  him  his  host,  saying,  "Now 
may  ye  fetch  blood  enough  to  heal  your  son  withal." 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

How  BALIN  FOUGHT  WITH  KING  PELLAM,  AND  HOW  HIS  SWORD  BRAKE, 
AND  HOW  HE  GAT  A  SPEAR  WHEREWITH  HE  SMOTE  THE  DOLOROUS 
STROKE. 

ANON  all  the  knights  arose  from  the  table  for  to 
set  on  Balin.  And  King  Pellam  himself  arose  up 
fiercely,  and  said,  "  Knight,  hast  thou  slain  my  brother  ? 
thou  shalt  die  therefore  or  thou  depart." 

'Well,"  said  Balin,  "do  it  yourself." 

'Yes,"  said  King  Pellam,  "there  shall  no  man  have 
ado  with  thee  but  myself,  for  the  love  of  my  brother." 

Then  King  Pellam  caught  in  his  hand  a  grim  weapon 
and  smote  eagerly  at  Balin,  but  Balin  put  the  sword 
betwixt  his  head  and  the  stroke,  and  therewith  his  sword 
burst  in  sunder.  And  when  Balin  was  weaponless  he  ran 
into  a  chamber  for  to  seek  some  weapon,  and  so  from 
chamber  to  chamber,  and  no  weapon  could  he  find,  and 
alway  King  Pellam  followed  him  ;  and  at  the  last  he 


Of  King  Arthur.  43 

entered  into  a  chamber  that  was  marvellously  well  dight 
[furnished]  and  richly,  and  a  bed  arrayed  with  cloth  of 
gold,  the  richest  that  might  be  thought,  and  one  lying 
therein ;  and  thereby  stood  a  table  of  clean  gold,  with 
four  pillars  of  silver  that  bare  up  the  table,  and  upon  the 
table  stood  a  marvellous  spear  strangely  wrought.  And 
when  Balin  saw  the  spear,  he  gat  it  in  his  hand,  and 
turned  him  to  King  Pellam,  and  smote  him  passingly  sore 
with  that  spear,  that  King  Pellam  fell  down  in  a  swoon, 
and  therewith  the  castle  rove  [was  riven],  and  walls  brake 
and  fell  to  the  earth,  and  Balin  fell  down  so  that  he  might 
not  stir  hand  nor  foot.  And  so  the  most  part  of  the  castle 
that  was  fallen  down  through  that  Dolorous  Stroke  lay 
upon  King  Pellam  and  Balin  three  days. 

Then  Merlin  came  thither,  and  took  up  Balin,  and  gat 
him  a  good  horse,  for  his  horse  was  dead,  and  bade  him 
ride  out  of  that  country. 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

How  BALIN  MKT  WITH  HIS  BROTHER  BALAN,  AND  HOW  EACH  OF  THEM 

SLEW  OTHER  UNKNOWN,  TILL  THEY  WERE  WOUNDED  TO   DEATH. 


afore  him  he  saw  come  riding  out  of  a  castle  a 
knight,  and  his  horse  trapped  all  red,  and  himself  in 
the  same  color.  When  this  knight  in  the  red  beheld 
Balin,  him  thought  it  should  be  his  brother  Balin  because 
of  his  two  swords,  but  because  he  knew  not  his  shield,  he 
deemed  it  was  not  he.  And  so  they  aventred  [adventured] 
their  spears,  and  came  marvellously  fast  together,  and  they 
smote  each  other  in  the  shields,  but  their  spears  and  their 
course  was  so  big  that  it  bare  down  horse  and  man,  that 


44  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

they  lay  both  in  a  swoon.  But  Balin  was  bruised  sore 
with  the  fall  of  his  horse,  for  he  was  weary  of  travel. 
And  Balan  was  the  first  that  rose  on  foot  and  drew  his 
sword,  and  went  toward  Balin,  and  he  arose  and  went 
against  him,  but  Balan  smote  Balin  first,  and  he  put  up 
his  shield,  and  smote  him  through  the  shield  and  cleft  his 
helm.  Then  Balin  smote  him  again  with  that  unhappy 
sword,  and  well  nigh  had  felled  his  brother  Balan,  and  so 
they  fought  there  together  till  their  breaths  failed.  Then 
Balin  looked  up  to  the  castle,  and  saw  the  towers  stand 
full  of  ladies.  So  they  went  to  battle  again,  and  wounded 
each  other  dolefully,  and  then  they  breathed  oft-times,  and 
so  went  unto  battle,  that  all  the  place  there  as  they  fought 
was  blood  red.  And  at  that  time  there  was  none  of  them 
both  but  they  had  either  smitten  other  seven  great  wounds, 
so  that  the  least  of  them  might  have  been  the  death  of  the 
mightiest  giant  in  this  world.  Then  they  went  to  battle 
again  so  marvellously  that  doubt  it  was  to  hear  of  that 
battle  for  the  great  bloodshedding,  and  their  hauberks 
unnailed,  that  naked  they  were  on  every  side.  At  the  last 
Balan,  the  younger  brother,  withdrew  him  a  little  and  laid 
him  down.  Then  said  Balin  le  Savage,  "What  knight 
art  thou  ?  for  or  [ere]  now  I  found  never  no  knight  that 
matched  me." 

"My  name  is,"  said  he,  "Balan,  brother  to  the  good 
knight  Balin." 

"Alas ! "  said  Balin,  "that  ever  I  should  see  this  day." 
And  therewith  he  fell  backward  in  a  swoon.  Then 
Balan  went  on  all  four  feet  and  hands,  and  put  off  the 
helm  of  his  brother,  and  might  not  know  him  by  the  vis- 
age it  was  so  full  hewn  and  bled ;  but  when  he  awoke  he 
said,  "O  Balan,  my  brother,  thou  hast  slain  me  and  I 
thee,  wherefore  all  the  wide  world  shall  speak  of  us  both." 


Of  King  Arthur.  45 

"Alas!"  said  Balan,  "that  ever  I  saw  this  day,  that 
through  mishap  I  might  not  know  you,  for  I  espied  well 
your  two  swords,  but  because  ye  had  another  shield  I 
deemed  you  had  been  another  knight." 

"  Alas  !  "  said  Balin,  "  all  that  made  an  unhappy  knight 
in  the  castle,  for  he  caused  me  to  leave  mine  own  shield 
to  our  both's  destruction,  and  if  I  might  live  I  would 
destroy  that  castle  for  ill  customs." 

" That  were  well  done,"  said  Balan,  "for  I  had  never 
grace  to  depart  from  them  since  that  I  came  hither,  for 
here  it  happed  me  to  slay  a  knight  that  kept  this  island, 
and  since  might  I  never  depart,  and  no  more  should  ye 
brother,  and  ye  might  have  slain  me  as  ye  have,  and 
escaped  yourself  with  the  life." 

Right  so  came  the  lady  of  the  tower  with  four  knights 
and  six  ladies  and  six  yeomen  unto  them,  and  there  she 
heard  how  they  made  their  moan  either  to  other,  and 
said,  "We  came  both  of  one  [mother],  and  so  shall  we 
lie  both  in  one  pit." 

So  Balan  prayed  the  lady  of  her  gentleness,  for  his  true 
service  that  she  would  bury  them  both  in  that  same  place 
there  the  battle  was  done.  And  she  granted  them  with 
weeping  it  should  be  done  richly  in  the  best  manner. 

"  Now  will  ye  send  for  a  priest,  that  we  may  receive  our 
sacrament  and  receive  the  blessed  body  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ." 

"Yea,"  said  the  lady,  "it  shall  be  done." 

And  so  she  sent  for  a  priest  and  gave  them  their  rites. 

"  Now,"  said  Balin,  "  when  we  are  buried  in  one  tomb, 
and  the  mention  made  over  us  how  two  brethren  slew 
each  other,  there  will  never  good  knight  nor  good  man  sec 
our  tomb  but  they  will  pray  for  our  souls." 

And  so  all  the  ladies  and  gentlewomen  wept  for  pity, 


46        .  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

Then,  anon  Balan  died,  but  Balin  died  not  till  the  mid- 
night after,  and  so  were  they  buried  both,  and  the  lady  let 
make  a  mention  of  Balan  how  he  was  there  slain  by  his 
brother's  hands,  but  she  knew  not  Balin's  name. 

In  the  morn  came  Merlin  and  let  write  Balin's  name 
upon  the  tomb,  with  letters  of  gold,  That  here  lieth  Balin 
le  Savage,  that  was  the  knight  with  the  two  swords,  and 
be  that  smote  the  Dolorous  Stroke. 

Soon  after  this  was  done  Merlin  came  to  King  Arthur 
and  told  him  of  the  Dolorous  Stroke  that  Balin  gave  to 
King  Pellam,  and  how  Balin  and  Balan  fought  together 
the  most  marvellous  battle  that  ever  was  heard  of,  and 
how  they  were  buried  both  in  one  tomb. 

"Alas!"  said  King  Arthur,  "this  is  the  greatest  pity 
that  ever  I  heard  tell  of  two  knights,  for  in  the  world  I 
know  not  such  two  knights." 

Thus  endeth  the  tale  of  Balin  and  Balan,  two  brethren 
born  in  Northumberland,  good  knights. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

How  KING  ARTHUR  TOOK  AND  WEDDED  GUENEVER  UNTO  HIS  WIFE. 

IT  befell  on  a  time  that  King  Arthur  said  to  Merlin: 
"  My  barons  will  let  me  have  no  rest,  but  needs  they 
will  have  that  I  take  a  wife,  and  I  will  none  take  but  by 
thy  counsel  and  by  thine  advice." 

"It  is  well  done,"  said  Merlin,  "that  ye  take  a  wife, 
for  a  man  of  your  bounty  and  nobleness  should  not  be 
without  a  wife.  Now  is  there  any  fair  lady  that  ye  love 
better  than  another  ? " 

"Yea,"  said  King  Arthur,  "I  love  Guenever,  the  king's 


Of  King  Arthur.  47 

daughter  Leodegrance T  of  the  land  of  Cameliard,  which 
Leodegrance  holdeth  in  his  house  the  Table  Round  that 
ye  told  he  had  of  my  father  Uther.  And  this  damsel  is 
the  most  gentlest  and  fairest  lady  that  I  know  living,  or 
yet  that  ever  I  could  find." 

And  Merlin  went  forth  to  King  Leodegrance  of  Camel- 
iard, and  told  him  of  the  desire  of  the  king,  that  he  would 
have  to  his  wife  Guenever  his  daughter. 

"That  is  to  me,"  said  King  Leodegrance,  "the  best 
tidings  that  ever  I  heard,  that  so  worthy  a  king  of  prowess 
and  of  nobleness  will  wed  my  daughter.  And  as  for  my 
lands  I  will  give  him,  wished  I  that  it  might  please  him, 
but  he  hath  lands  enough,  he  needeth  none ;  but  I  shall 
send  him  a  gift  that  shall  please  him  much  more,  for  1 
shall  give  him  the  Table  Round,  the  which  Utherpen- 
dragon  gave  me ;  and  when  it  is  full  complete,  there  is 
an  hundred  knights  and  fifty,  and  as  for  an  hundred  good 
knights  I  have  myself,  but  I  lack  fifty,  for  so  many  have 
been  slain  in  my  days." 

And  so  King  Leodegrance  delivered  his  daughter 
Guenever  unto  Merlin,  and  the  Table  Round  with  the 
hundred  knights ;  and  so  they  rode  freshly  with  great 
royalty,  what  by  water  and  what  by  land,  till  they  came 
that  night  unto  London. 

•  M  The  king's  daughter  Leodegrance,"  King  Leodegrancfs  daughter. 


48  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


How  THE  KNIGHTS  OF  THE  ROUND  TABLE  WERE  ORDAINED,  AND 
THEIR  SIEGES  [seats}  WERE  BLESSED  BY  THE  ARCHBISHOP  OF  CANTE* 
BURY. 

WHEN  King  Arthur  heard  of  the  coming  of  Guenever 
and  the  hundred  knights  with  the  Table  Round, 
he  made  great  joy  for  their  coming,  and  said  openly, 
"This  fair  lady  is  passing  welcome  to  me,  for  I  loved  hei 
long,  and  therefore  there  is  nothing  so  pleasing  to  me. 
And  these  knights  with  the  Round  Table  please  me  more 
than  right  great  riches." 

Then  in  all  haste  the  king  did  ordain  for  the  marriage 
and  the  coronation  in  the  most  honorablest  wise  that 
could  be  devised. 

"Now  Merlin,"  said  King  Arthur,  "go  thou  and  espy 
me  in  all  this  land  fifty  knights  which  be  of  most  prowess 
and  worship." 

Within  short  time  Merlin  had  found  such  knights  that 
should  fulfil  twenty  and  eight  knights,  but  no  more  he 
could  find.  Then  the  bishop  of  Canterbury  was  fetched, 
and  he  blessed  the  sieges  [seats']  with  great  royalty  and 
devotion,  and  there  set  the  eight  and  twenty  knights  in 
their  sieges. 

And  when  this  was  done  Merlin  said,  "Fair  sirs,  ye 
must  all  arise  and  come  to  King  Arthur  for  to  do  him 
homage  ;  he  will  have  the  better  will  to  maintain  you." 

And  so  they  arose  and  did  their  homage.  And  when 
they  were  gone  Merlin  found  in  every  siege  letters  of 
gold  that  told  the  knights'  names  that  had  sitten  therein. 
But  two  sieges  were  void. 


Of  King  Arthur.  4.9 

"What  is  the  cause,"  said  King  Arthur,  "that  there  be 
two  places  void  in  the  sieges  ? " 

"Sir,"  said  Merlin,  "there  shall  no  man  sit  in  those 
places  but  they  that  shall  be  of  most  worship.  But  in  the 
Siege  Perilous  there  shall  no  man  sit  therein  but  one,  and 
if  there  be  any  so  hardy  to  do  it  he  shall  be  destroyed, 
and  he  that  shall  sit  there  shall  have  no  fellow." 

And  therewith  Merlin  took  King  Pellinore  by  the  hand, 
and,  in  the  one  hand  next  the  two  sieges  and  the  Siege 
Perilous,  he  said  in  open  audience,  "This  is  your  place, 
and  best  ye  be  worthy  to  sit  therein  of  any  that  is  here." 


BOOK    II. 
OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  DU  LAKE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  SIR  LIONEL  DEPARTED  FROM  THE   COURT 

FOE  TO  SEEK  ADVENTURES,  AND  HOW  SlR  LIONEL  LEFT  SlR  LAUNCE- 
LOT SLEEPING,  AND  WAS  TAKEN. 

ANON  after  that  the  noble  and  worthy  King  Arthur 
was  come  from  Rome  into  England,  all  the  knights 
of  the  Round  Table  resorted  unto  the  king,  and  made 
many  jousts  and  tournaments,  and  some  there  were  that 
were  good  knights,  which  increased  so  in  arms  and  wor- 
ship that  they  passed  all  their  fellows  in  prowess  and 
noble  deeds,  and  that  was  well  proved  on  many,  but 
especially  it  was  proved  on  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  For 
in  all  tournaments  and  jousts  and  deeds  of  arms,  both  for 
life  and  death,  he  passed  all  knights,  and  at  no  time  he 
was  never  overcome,  but  it  were  by  treason  or  enchant- 
ment. Wherefore  Queen  Guenever  had  him  in  great 
favor  above  all  other  knights,  and  certainly  he  loved  the 
queen  again  above  all  other  ladies  and  damsels  all  the 
days  of  his  life,  and  for  her  he  did  many  great  deeds  of 
arms,  and  saved  her  from  the  fire  through  his  noble 
chivalry.  Thus  Sir  Launcelot  rested  him  a  long  while 

$« 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  51 

with  play  and  game ;  and  then  he  thought  to  prove  him- 
self in  strange  adventures.  Then  he  bade  his  brother  Sir 
Lionel  to  make  him  ready,  "  for  we  two  will  seek  adven- 
tures." 

So  they  mounted  upon  their  horses  armed  at  all  points, 
and  rode  into  a  deep  forest ;  and  after  they  came  into  a 
great  plain,  and  then  the  weather  was  hot  about  noon, 
and  Sir  Launcelot  had  great  list  [desire]  to  sleep. 

Then  Sir  Lionel  espied  a  great  apple  tree  that  stood  by 
an  hedge,  and  said :  "  Brother,  yonder  is  a  fair  shadow, 
there  may  we  rest  us  and  our  horses." 

"It  is  well  said,  fair  brother,"  said  Sir  Launcelot ;  "for 
of  all  this  seven  year  I  was  not  so  sleepy  as  I  am  now." 

And  so  they  there  alighted  and  tied  their  horses  under 
sundry  trees,  and  so  Sir  Launcelot  laid  him  down  under 
an  apple  tree,  and  his  helm  he  laid  under  his  head.  And 
Sir  Lionel  waked  while  he  slept.  So  Sir  Launcelot  was 
asleep  passing  fast.  And  in  the  mean  while  there  came 
three  knights  riding,  as  fast  fleeing  as  ever  they  might 
ride.  And  there  followed  them  three  but  one  knight. 
And  when  Sir  Lionel  saw  him,  him  thought  he  saw  never 
so  great  a  knight  nor  so  well  faring  a  man,  neither  so 
well  apparelled  unto  all  rights.  So  within  a  while  this 
strong  knight  had  overtaken  one  of  these  knights,  and 
there  he  smote  him  to  the  cold  earth  that  he  lay  still. 
And  then  he  rode  unto  the  second  knight,  and  smote  him 
so  that  man  and  horse  fell  down.  And  then  straight  to 
the  third  knight  he  rode,  and  he  smote  him  behind  his 
horse's  tail  a  spear's  length.  And  then  he  alighted  down, 
and  reined  his  horse  on  the  bridle,  and  bound  all  the 
three  knights  fast  with  the  reins  of  their  own  bridles. 
When  Sir  Lionel  saw  him  do  thus,  he  thought  to  assay 
him,  and  made  him  ready,  and  stilly  and  orivily  he  took  his 


52  The  Boy* s  King  Arthur. 

horse,  and  thought  not  for  to  awake  Sir  Launcelot.  And 
when  he  was  mounted  upon  his  horse  he  overtook  this 
strong  knight  and  bade  him  turn :  and  the  other  smote 
Sir  Lionel  so  hard  that  horse  and  man  he  bare  to  the 
earth,  and  so  he  alighted  down  and  bound  him  fast,  and 
threw  him  overthwart  his  own  horse,  and  so  he  served 
them  all  four,  and  rode  with  them  away  to  his  own  castle. 
And  when  he  came  there,  he  made  unarm  them,  and  beat 
them  with  thorns  all  naked,  and  after  put  them  in  a  deep 
prison  where  there  were  many  more  knights  that  made 
great  dolor. 


CHAPTER  II. 

HOW  SIR  ECTOR  FOLLOWED  FOR  TO  SEEK  SlR  LAUNCELOT,  AND  HOW  HI 
WAS  TAKEN   BY  SlR  TURQUINE. 

WHEN  Sir  Ector  de  Maris  wist  that  Sir  Launcelot 
was  past  out  of  the  court  to  seek  adventures  he 
was  wroth  with  himself,  and  made  him  ready  to  seek  Sir 
Launcelot,  and  as  he  had  ridden  long  in  a  great  forest,  he 
met  with  a  man  that  was  like  a  forester.  "  Fair  fellow," 
said  Sir  Ector,  "knowest  thou  in  this  country  any  ad- 
ventures that  be  here  nigh  hand  ?  " 

"  Sir,"  said  the  forester,  "  this  country  know  I  well,  and 
hereby  within  this  mile  is  a  strong  manor,  and  well  diked, 
and  by  that  manor,  on  the  left  hand,  there  is  a  fair  ford  for 
horses  to  drink  of,  and  over  that  ford  there  groweth  a  fair 
tree,  and  thereon  hangeth  many  fair  shields  that  wielded 
sometime  good  knights :  and  at  the  hole  of  the  tree 
hangeth  a  basin  of  copper  and  laton  [dross],  and  strike 
upon  that  basin  with  the  butt  of  thy  spear  thrice,  and 
soon  after  thou  shalt  hear  new  tidings,  and  else  hast  thou 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  53 

the  fairest  grace  that  many  a  year  had  ever  knight  that 
passed  through  this  forest." 

"  Gramercy  "  \thanks\  said  Sir  Ector,  and  departed  and 
came  to  the  tree,  and  saw  many  fair  shields,  and  among 
them  he  saw  his  brother's  shield,  Sir  Lionel,  and  many 
more  that  he  knew  that  were  his  fellows  of  the  Round 
Table,  the  which  grieved  his  heart,  and  he  promised  to 
revenge  his  brother.  Then  anon  Sir  Ector  beat  on  the 
basin  as  he  were  wood  \crazy\  and  then  he  gave  his  horse 
drink  at  the  ford :  and  there  came  a  knight  behind  him 
and  bade  him  come  out  of  the  water  and  make  him  ready  ; 
and  Sir  Ector  anon  turned  him  shortly,  and  in  fewter  cast J 
his  spear,  and  smote  the  other  knight  a  great  buffet  thai 
his  horse  turned  twice  about. 

"This  was  well  done,"  said  the  strong  knight,  "and 
knightly  thou  hast  stricken  me : "  and  therewith  he 
rushed  his  horse  on  Sir  Ector  and  caught  him  under 
his  right  arm,  and  bare  him  clean  out  of  the  saddle,  and 
rode  with  him  away  into  his  own  hall,  and  threw  him  down 
in  the  midst  of  the  floor.  The  name  of  this  knight  was 
Sir  Turquine.  Then  he  said  unto  Sir  Ector,  "  For  thou 
hast  done  this  day  more  unto  me  than  any  knight  did 
these  twelve  years,  now  will  I  grant  thee  thy  life,  so  thou 
wilt  be  sworn  to  be  my  prisoner  all  thy  life  days." 

"  Nay,"  said  Sir  Ector,  "  that  will  I  never  promise  thee, 
but  that  I  will  do  mine  advantage." 

"  That  me  repenteth,"  said  Sir  Turquine. 

And  then  he  made  to  unarm  him,  and  beat  him  with 
thorns  all  naked,  and  after  put  him  down  in  a  deep  dun- 
geon, where  he  knew  many  of  his  fellows.  But  when  Sii 
Ector  saw  Sir  Lionel,  then  made  he  great  sorrow. 

1 « In  fewter  cast  his  spear,"  in  rest  placed  kit  #t*r. 


54  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"Alas,  brother,"  said  Sir  Ector,  "where  is  my  brother 
Sir  Launcelot  ? " 

"  Fair  brother,  I  left  him  on  sleep  when  that  I  from  hiir* 
went,  under  an  apple  tree,  and  what  is  become  of  him  I 
cannot  tell  you." 

"Alas,"  said  the  knights,  "but  Sir  Launcelot  help  us 
we  may  never  be  delivered,  for  we  know  now  no  knight 
that  is  able  to  match  our  master  Turquine." 


CHAPTER  III. 

How  FOUR  QUEENS  FOUND  SIR  LAUNCELOT   SLEEPING,  AND  HOW  BY 
ENCHANTMENT  HE  WAS  TAKEN  AND  LED  INTO  A  CASTLE. 

NOW  leave  we  these  knights  prisoners,  and  speak  we 
of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake  that  lieth  under  the  apple 
tree  sleeping.  Even  about  the  noon  there  came  by  him 
four  queens  of  great  estate ;  and,  for  the  heat  of  the  sun 
should  not  annoy  them,  there  rode  four  knights  about 
them  and  bare  a  cloth  of  green  silk  on  four  spears,  be- 
twixt them  and  the  sun,  and  the  queens  rode  on  four 
white  mules. 

Thus  as  they  rode  they  heard  by  them  a  great  horse 
grimly  neigh,  and  then  were  they  ware  of  a  sleeping 
knight  that  lay  all  armed  under  an  apple  tree ;  anon  as 
these  queens  looked  on  his  face  they  knew  that  it  was 
Sir  Launcelot.  Then  they  began  for  to  strive  for  that 
knight ;  every  one  said  she  would  have  him  to  her  love. 

"We  shall  not  strive,"  said  Morgan  le  Fay  that  was 
King  Arthur's  sister ;  "  I  shall  put  an  enchantment  upon 
him  that  he  shall  not  awake  in  six  hours,  and  then  I  will 
lead  him  away  unto  my  castle,  and  when  he  is  surely  within 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  55 

my  hold  I  shall  take  the  enchantment  from  him,  and  then 
let  him  choose  which  of  us  he  will  have  for  his  love." 

So  this  enchantment  was  cast  upon  Sir  Launcelot,  and 
then  they  laid  him  upon  his  shield,  and  bare  him  so  on 
horseback  betwixt  two  knights,  and  brought  him  unto  the 
castle  Chariot,  and  there  they  laid  nim  in  a  chamber  cold, 
and  at  night  they  sent  unto  him  a  fair  damsel  with  his 
supper  ready  dight.  By  that  the  enchantment  was  past, 
and  when  she  came  she  saluted  him,  and  asked  him  what 
cheer  ? 

"I  cannot  say,  fair  damsel,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "for 
I  wot  not  how  I  came  into  this  castle  but  it  be  by  an 
enchantment." 

"Sir,"  said  she,  "ye  must  make  good  cheer,  and  if  ye 
be  such  a  knight  as  is  said  ye  be,  I  shall  tell  .you  more 
tomorn  [to-morrow]  by  prime  \the  first  hour\  of  the  day." 

"  Gramercy,  fair  damsel,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  of  your 
good  will  I  require  you." 

And  so  she  departed.  And  there  he  lay  all  that  night 
without  comfort  of  anybody. 

And  on  the  morn  early  came  these  four  queens,  passingly 
well  beseen,  all  they  bidding  him  good  morn,  and  he  them 
again. 

"  Sir  knight,"  the  four  queens  said,  "  thou  must  under* 
stand  thou  art  our  prisoner,  and  we  here  know  thee  well, 
that  thou  art  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  King  Ban's  son. 
And  truly  we  understand  your  worthiness  that  thou  art 
the  noblest  knight  living;  and  therefore  thee  behoveth 
now  to  choose  one  of  us  four.  I  am  the  queen  Morgan 
le  Fay,  queen  of  the  land  of  Gore,  and  here  is  the  queen 
of  Northgalis,  and  the  queen  of  Eastland,  and  the  queen 
of  the  Out  Isles ;  now  choose  ye  one  of  us  which  thou 
wilt  have  to  thy  love,  for  thou  mayst  not  choose  or  else  in 
this  prison  to  die." 


56  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"  This  is  an  hard  case/'  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  that  either 
I  must  die  or  else  choose  one  of  you,  yet  had  I  liever  to 
die  in  this  prison  with  worship,  than  to  have  one  of  you 
to  my  love  maugre  my  head.  And  therefore  ye  be  an- 
swered, for  I  will  have  none  of  you,  for  ye  be  false 
enchantresses." 

"  Well,"  said  the  queens,  "is  this  your  answer,  that  you 
will  refuse  us  ?  " 

"  Yea,  upon  my  life,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  refused  ye 
be  of  me." 

So  they  departed,  and  left  him  there  alone  that  made 
great  sorrow. 


CHAPTER  IV. 
How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  WAS  DELIVERED  BY  THE  MEANS  OF  A  DAMSEL. 

RIGHT  so  at  noon  came  the  damsel  to  him,  and  brought 
him  his  dinner,  and  asked  him  what  cheer. 

"  Truly,  fair  damsel,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  in  all  my  life- 
days  never  so  ill." 

"  Sir,"  said  she,  "  that  me  repenteth ;  but  and  ye  will 
be  ruled  by  me,  I  shall  help  you  out  of  this  distress,  and 
ye  shall  have  no  shame  nor  villany,  so  that  ye  hold  me  a 
promise." 

"  Fair  damsel,  that  I  will  grant  you,  and  sore  I  am 
af eared  of  these  queen's  witches,  for  they  have  destroyed 
many  a  good  knight." 

"  Sir,"  said  she,  "  that  is  sooth,  and  for  the  renown  and 
bounty  they  hear  of  you,  they  would  have  your  love,  and, 
sir,  they  say  that  your  name  is  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake, 
the  flower  of  all  the  knights  that  been  living,  and  they 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  57 

been  passing  wroth  with  you  that  ye  have  refused  them  ; 
but,  sir,  and  ye  would  promise  me  for  to  help  my  father 
on  Tuesday  next  coming,  that  hath  made  a  tournament 
between  him  and  the  king  of  Northgalis  ;  for  the  Tuesday 
last  past  my  father  lost  the  field  through  three  knights  of 
King  Arthur's  court,  and  if  ye  will  be  there  upon  Tuesday 
next  coming  and  help  my  father,  to-morrow  or  [ere]  prime, 
by  the  grace  of  God,  I  shall  deliver  you  clean." 

"Fair  maiden,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "tell  me  what  is 
your  father's  name,  and  then  shall  I  give  you  an  answer." 

"Sir  knight,"  said  the  damsel,  "my  father  is  King 
Bagdemagus,  that  was  foully  rebuked  at  the  last  tourna 
ment." 

"I  know  your  father  well,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "for  a 
noble  king  and  a  good  knight,  and  by  the  faith  of  my 
body,  ye  shall  have  my  body  ready  to  do  your  father  and 
you  service  at  that  day." 

"  Sir,"  said  the  damsel,  "  gramercy,  and  to-morrow  await 
that  ye  be  ready  betimes,  and  I  shall  deliver  you ;  and 
take  you  your  armor  and  your  horse,  shield,  and  spear; 
and  hereby  within  these  ten  miles  is  an  abbey  of  white 
monks,  and  there  I  pray  you  to  abide,  and  thither  shall  I 
bring  my  father  unto  you." 

"  All  this  shall  be  done,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  as  I  am  a 
true  knight." 

And  so  she  departed,  and  came  on  the  morrow  early 
and  found  him  ready.  Then  she  brought  him  out  ot 
twelve  locks,  and  brought  him  unto  his  armor.  And 
when  he  was  all  armed  and  arrayed,  she  brought  him 
unto  his  own  horse,  and  lightly  he  saddled  him,  and 
took  a  great  spear  in  his  hand,  and  so  rode  forth,  and 
said,  "  Fair  damsel,  I  shall  not  fail  you,  by  the  grace  of 
God" 


58  The  Bofs  King  Arthur. 

And  so  he  rode  into  a  great  forest  all  that  day,  and  in 
no  wise  could  he  find  any  highway,  and  so  the  night  fell 
on  him,  and  then  was  he  ware  in  a  slade  [glade]  of  a 
pavilion  of  red  sendall.1  "By  my  faith,"  said  Sir  Launce- 
lot, "in  that  pavilion  will  I  lodge  all  this  night."  And 
so  there  he  alighted  down,  and  tied  his  horse  to  the 
pavilion,  and  there  he  unarmed  him,  and  found  there  a 
rich  bed  and  laid  him  therein,  and  anon  he  fell  on  sleep. 

So  thus  within  a  while  the  night  passed  and  the  day 
appeared,  and  then  Sir  Launcelot  armed  him  and  mounted 
upon  his  horse,  and  took  his  leave,  and  they  showed  him 
the  way  towards  the  abbey,  and  thither  they  rode  within 
the  space  of  two  hours. 


CHAPTER  V. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  WAS  RECEIVED  OF  KING  BAGDEMAGUS'  DAUGHTER, 

AND  HOW  HE  MADE  HIS  COMPLAINT  UNTO  HER  FATHER. 

AS  soon  as  Sir  Launcelot  came  within  the  abbey  yard, 
King  Bagdemagus'  daughter  heard  a  great  horse  go 
on  the  pavement.  And  then  she  arose  and  went  unto  a 
window,  and  there  she  saw  that  it  was  Sir  Launcelot,  and 
anon  she  made  men  hastily  to  go  to  him,  which  took  his 
horse  and  led  him  into  a  stable,  and  himself  was  led  into 
a  fair  chamber,  and  there  he  unarmed  him,  and  the  lady 
sent  to  him  a  long  gown,  and  anon  she  came  herself. 
And  then  she  made  Sir  Launcelot  passing  good  cheer, 
and  she  said  he  was  the  knight  in  the  world  that  was  most 
welcome  to  her.  Then  she  in  all  the  haste  sent  for  her 
father  King  Bagdemagus,  that  was  within  twelve  miles  of 

1  "  Sendall,"  a  kind  of  silk. 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  59 

that  abbey,  and  before  even  he  came  with  a  fair  fellowship 
of  knights  with  him.  And  when  the  king  was  alighted 
from  his  horse,  he  went  straight  unto  Sir  Launcelot's 
chamber,  and  there  found  his  daughter,  and  then  the 
king  embraced  Sir  Launcelot  in  his  arms,  and  either 
made  other  good  cheer.  Anon  Sir  Launcelot  made  his 
complaint  unto  the  king  how  he  was  betrayed,  and  how 
his  brother  Sir  Lionel  was  departed  from  him  he  wist  not 
whither,  and  how  his  daughter  had  delivered  him  out  of 
prison,  "  wherefore  I  shall  while  I  live  do  her  service  and 
all  her  friends  and  kindred." 

"  Then  am  I  sure  of  your  help,"  said  the  king,  "  now  on 
Tuesday  next  coming  ? " 

"  Ye,  sir,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  I  shall  not  fail  you,  for 
so  have  I  promised  unto  my  lady,  your  daughter.  As  I 
hear  say  that  the  tournament  shall  be  within  this  three 
mile  of  this  abbey,  ye  shall  send  unto  me  three  knights  of 
yours  such  as  ye  trust,  and  look  that  the  three  knights 
have  all  white  shields,  and  I  also,  and  no  painture  on  the 
shields,  and  we  four  will  come  out  of  a  little  wood  in  the 
midst  of  both  parties,  and  we  shall  fall  in  the  front  of  our 
enemies  and  grieve  them  that  we  may ;  and  thus  shall  I 
not  be  known  what  knight  I  am."  So  they  took  their 
rest  that  night,  and  this  was  on  the  Sunday.  And  so 
the  king  departed,  and  sent  unto  Sir  Launcelot  three 
knights,  with  the  four  white  shields. 

And  on  the  Tuesday  they  lodged  them  in  a  little  leaved 
wood  beside  there  the  tournament  should  be.  And  there 
were  scaffolds  that  lords  and  ladies  might  behold,  and  to 
give  the  prize.  Then  came  into  the  field  the  king  of 
Northgalis  with  eightscore  helms.  And  then  the  three 
knights  of  Arthur  stood  by  themselves.  Then  came  into 
the  field  King  Bagdamagus  with  fourscore  of  helms.  And 


6o  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

then  they  fewtred  [placed  in  rest}  their  spears,  and  came 
together  with  a  great  dash,  and  there  were  slain  of  knights, 
at  the  first  encounter,  twelve  of  King  Bagdemagus'  party, 
and  six  of  the  king  of  Northgalis'  party,  and  King  Bagde- 
magus' party  was  far  set  aback. 


CHAPTER  VI. 
How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  BEHAVED  HIM  IN  A  TOURNAMENT,  AND  HOW  KB 

MET  WITH  SIR  TURQUINE  LEADING  AWAY  SlR  GAHERIS. 

WITH  that  came  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  and  he 
thrust  in  with  his  spear  in  the  thickest  of  the 
press,  and  there  he  smote  down  with  one  spear  five 
knights,  and  of  four  of  them  he  brake  their  backs.  And 
in  that  throng  he  smote  down  the  king  of  Northgalis,  and 
brake  his  thigh  in  that  fall.  All  this  doing  of  Sir  Launce- 
lot saw  the  three  knights  of  Arthur. 

"Yonder  is  a  shrewd  guest,"  said  Sir  Mador  de  la 
Porte,  "  therefore  have  here  once  at  him." 

So  they  encountered,  and  Sir  Launcelot  bare  him  down 
horse  and  man,  so  that  his  shoulder  went  out  of  joint. 

"Now  befalleth  it  to  me  to  joust,"  said  Mordred,  "for 
Sir  Mador  hath  a  sore  fall." 

Sir  Launcelot  was  ware  of  him,  and  gat  a  great  spear  in 
his  hand,  and  met  him,  and  Sir  Mordred  brake  a  spear 
upon  him,  and  Sir  Launcelot  gave  him  such  a  buffet  that 
the  bow  of  his  saddle  brake,  and  so  he  flew  over  his  horse's 
tail,  that  his  helm  went  into  the  earth  a  foot  and  more, 
that  nigh  his  neck  was  broken,  and  there  he  lay  long  in  a 
swoon.  Then  came  in  Sir  Gahalatine  with  a  spear,  and 
Launcelot  against  him,  with  all  their  strength  that  they 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  61 

might  drive,  that  both  their  spears  to-brast  [burst  to  pieces] 
even  to  their  hands,  and  then  they  flung  out  with  their 
swords,  and  gave  many  a  grim  stroke.  Then  was  Sir 
Launcelot  wroth  out  of  measure,  and  then  he  smote  Sir 
Gahalatine  on  the  helm,  that  his  nose  burst  out  on  blood, 
and  ears  and  mouth  both,  and  therewith  his  head  hung 
low.  And  therewith  his  horse  ran  away  with  him,  and  he 
fell  down  to  the  earth. 

Anon  therewithal  Sir  Launcelot  gat  a  great  spear  in  his 
hand,  and,  or  [ere]  ever  that  great  spear  brake,  he  bare 
down  to  the  earth  sixteen  knights,  some  horse  and  man, 
and  some  the  man  and  not  the  horse,  and  there  was  none 
but  that  he  hit  surely.  He  bare  none  arms  [no  device  to 
be  known  by\  that  day.  And  then  he  gat  another  great 
spear,  and  smote  down  twelve  knights,  and  the  most  part 
of  them  never  throve  after.  And  then  the  knights  of  the 
king  of  Northgalis  would  joust  no  more,  and  there  the 
prize  was  given  unto  King  Bagdemagus.  So  either  party 
departed  unto  his  own  place,  and  Sir  Launcelot  rode  forth 
with  King  Bagdemagus  unto  his  castle,  and  there  he  had 
passing  good  cheer  both  with  the  king  and  with  his 
daughter,  and  they  proffered  him  great  gifts.  And  on 
the  morn  he  took  his  leave,  and  told  King  Bagdemagus 
that  he  would  go  and  seek  his  brother  Sir  Lionel,  that 
went  from  him  when  that  he  slept.  So  he  took  his  horse, 
and  betaught  \commendea]  them  all  to  God.  And  there 
he  said  unto  the  king's  daughter,  "  If  ye  have  need  any 
time  of  my  service,  I  pray  you  let  me  have  knowledge, 
and  I  shall  not  fail  you,  as  I  am  a  true  knight." 

And  so  Sir  Launcelot  departed,  and  by  adventure  he 
came  into  the  same  forest  where  he  was  taken  sleeping. 
And  in  the  midst  of  an  highway  he  met  a  damsel  riding 
on  a  white  palfrey,  and  there  either  saluted  other. 


62  The  Bofs  King  Arthur. 

"Fair  damsel,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "know  ye  in  this 
country  any  adventures  ? " 

"Sir  knight,"  said  that  damsel,  "here  are  adventures 
near  hand,  and  [if}  thou  durst  prove  them." 

"  Why  should  I  not  prove  adventures  ? "  said  Sir  Launce- 
lot ;  "for  that  cause  came  I  hither." 

"Well,"  said  she,  "thou  seemest  well  to  be  a  good 
knight,  and  if  thou  dare  meet  with  a  good  knight,  I  shall 
bring  thee  where  is  the  best  knight  and  the  mightiest 
that  ever  thou  foundest,  so  thou  wilt  tell  me  what  is  thy 
name,  and  what  knight  thou  art." 

"  Damsel,  as  for  to  tell  thee  my  name,  I  take  no  great 
force :  truly,  my  name  is  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake." 

"  Sir,  thou  beseemest  well,  here  be  adventures  by  that 
fall  for  thee,  for  hereby  dwelleth  a  knight  that  will  not  be 
overmatched  for  no  man  that  I  know,  unless  ye  overmatch 
him,  and  his  name  is  Sir  Turquine.  And,  as  I  understand, 
he  hath  in  his  prison  of  Arthur's  court  good  knights  three- 
score and  four  that  he  hath  won  with  his  own  hands.  But 
when  ye  have  done  that  day's  work  ye  shall  promise  me 
as  ye  are  a  true  knight  for  to  go  with  me,  and  to  help  me 
and  other  damsels  that  are  distressed  daily  with  a  false 
knight." 

"  All  your  intent,  damsel,  and  desire  I  will  fulfil,  so  ye 
will  bring  me  unto  this  knight." 

"  Now,  lair  knight,  come  on  your  way." 

And  so  she  brought  him  unto  the  ford,  and  unto  the 
tree  where  hung  the  basin.  So  Sir  Launcelot  let  his 
horse  drink,  and  then  he  beat  on  the  basin  with  the  butt 
of  his  spear  so  hard  with  all  his  might  till  the  bottom  fell 
out,  and  long  he  did  so,  but  he  saw  nothing.  Then  he 
rode  along  the  gates  of  that  manor  nigh  half  an  hour. 
And  then  was  he  ware  of  a  great  knight  that  drove  ar 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  63 

horse  afore  him,  and  overthwart  the  horse  there  lay  an 
armed  knight  bound.  And  ever  as  they  came  near  and 
near,  Sir  Launcelot  thought  he  should  know  him ;  then 
Sir  Launcelot  was  ware  that  it  was  Sir  Gaheris,  Gawaine's 
brother,  a  knight  of  the  Table  Round. 

"  Now,  fair  damsel,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  I  see  yondei 
cometh  a  knight  fast  bound  that  is  a  fellow  of  mine,  and 
brother  he  is  unto  Sir  Gawaine.  And  at  the  first  begin- 
ning, I  promise  you,  by  the  leave  of  God,  to  rescue  that 
knight ;  and  unless  his  master  sit  better  in  the  saddle  I 
shall  deliver  all  the  prisoners  that  he  hath  out  of  danger, 
for  I  am  sure  that  he  hath  two  brethren  of  mine  prisoners 
with  him." 

By  that  time  that  either  had  seen  other  they  gripped 
their  spears  unto  them. 

"Now  fair  knight,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "put  that 
wounded  knight  off  the  horse,  and  let  him  rest  awhile, 
and  let  us  two  prove  our  strengths.  For  as  it  is  informed 
me,  thou  doest  and  hast  done  great  despite  and  shame 
unto  knights  of  the  Round  Table,  and  therefore  now 
defend  thee." 

"And  [if]  thou  be  of  the  Table  Round,"  said  Turquine, 
"  I  defy  thee  and  all  thy  fellowship." 

"That  is  overmuch  said,"  said  Sir  Launcelot. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  SIR  TURQUINK  FOUGHT  TOG 

AND  then  they  put  their  spears  in  the  rests,  and  came 
together  with  their  horses  as  fast  as  they  might  run, 
and  either  smote  other  in  the  midst  of  their  shields,  that 


54  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

both  their  horses'  backs  brast  under  them,  and  the  knights 
were  both  astonied,  and  as  soon  as  they  might  avoid  their 
horses  they  took  their  shields  afore  them,  and  drew  out 
their  swords,  and  came  together  eagerly,  and  either  gave 
other  many  strong  strokes,  for  there  might  neither  shields 
nor  harness  hold  their  strokes.  And  so  within  a  while 
they  had  both  grimly  wounds,  and  bled  passing  grievously. 
Thus  they  fared  two  hours  or  more,  trasing  and  rasing 
[feinting  and  thrusting}  either  other  where  they  might  hit 
any  bare  place.  Then  at  the  last  they  were  breathless 
both,  and  stood  leaning  on  their  swords. 

"Now,  fellow/'  said  Sir  Turquine,  "hold  thy  hand 
awhile,  and  tell  me  what  I  shall  ask  thee." 

"Say  on." 

Then  Turquine  said,  "Thou  art  the  biggest  man  that 
ever  I  met  withal,  and  the  best  breathed,  and  like  one 
knight  that  I  hate  above  all  other  knights ;  so  be  it  that 
thou  be  not  he  I  will  lightly  accord  with  thee,  and  for  thy 
love  I  will  deliver  all  the  prisoners  that  I  have,  that  is 
threescore  and  four,  so  thou  wilt  tell  me  thy  name.  And 
thou  and  I  will  be  fellows  together,  and  never  to  fail  the 
while  that  I  live." 

"It  is  well  said,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "but  since  it  is 
so  that  I  may  have  thy  friendship,  what  knight  is  he  that 
thou  so  hatest  above  all  other  ? " 

"Truly,"  said  Sir  Turquine,  "his  name  is  Launcelot 
du  Lake,  for  he  slew  my  brother  Sir  Carados  at  the 
Dolorous  Tower,  which  was  one  of  the  best  knights  then 
living,  and  therefore  him  I  except  of  all  knights,  for  and 
[if]  I  may  once  meet  with  him,  that  one  of  us  shall  make 
an  end  of  another,  and  do  that  I  make  a  vow.  And  for 
Sir  Launcelot' s  sake  I  have  slain  an  hundred  good  knights, 
and  as  many  I  have  utterly  maimed,  that  never  after  they 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  65 

might  help  themselves,  and  many  have  died  in  my  prison, 
and  yet  I  have  threescore  and  four,  and  all  shall  be 
delivered,  so  that  thou  wilt  tell  me  thy  name,  and  so  it 
be  that  thou  be  not  Sir  Launcelot." 

"Now  see  I  well,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "that  such  a  man 
I  might  be  I  might  have  peace,  and  such  a  man  I  might 
be  there  should  be  between  us  two  mortal  war ;  and  now, 
sir  knight,  at  thy  request,  I  will  that  thou  wit  and  know 
that  I  am  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  King  Ban's  son  of  Ben- 
wick,  and  knight  of  the  Round  Table.  And  now  I  defy 
thee  do  thy  best." 

"Ah!"  said  Sir  Turquine,  "Launcelot,  thou  art  unto 
me  most  welcome,  as  ever  was  any  knight,  for  we  shall 
never  depart  till  the  one  of  us  be  dead." 

And  then  hurtled  they  together  as  two  wild  bulls, 
rashing  and  lashing  with  their  shields  and  swords,  that 
sometime  they  fell  both  on  their  noses.  Thus  they 
fought  still  two  hours  and  more,  and  never  would  rest, 
and  Sir  Turquine  gave  Sir  Launcelot  many  wounds  that 
all  the  ground  there  as  they  fought  was  all  besprinkled 
with  blood. 

Then  at  last  Sir  Turquine  waxed  very  faint,  and  gave 
somewhat  back,  and  bare  his  shield  full  low  for  weariness. 
That  soon  espied  Sir  Launcelot,  and  then  leaped  upon 
him  fiercely  as  a  lion,  and  got  him  by  the  banner  of  his 
helmet,  and  so  he  plucked  him  down  on  his  knees,  and 
anon  he  rased  [tore  off}  his  helm,  and  then  he  smote  his 
neck  asunder. 


66  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  SLEW  Two  GIANTS,  AND  MADE  A  CASTLE  FREE. 

SO  on  the  third  day  he  rode  over  a  long  bridge,  and 
there  started  upon  him  suddenly  a  passing  foul  churl, 
and  he  smote  his  horse  on  the  nose  that  he  turned  about, 
and  asked  him  why  he  rode  over  that  bridge  without  his 
license. 

"  Why  should  I  not  ride  this  way  ? "  said  Sir  Launcelot. 
"  I  may  not  ride  beside." 

"  Thou  shalt  not  choose,"  said  the  churl,  and  lashed  at 
him  with  a  great  club  shod  with  iron.  Then  Sir  Launce- 
lot drew  a  sword,  and  put  the  stroke  aback,  and  clave  his 
head  unto  the  breast.  At  the  end  of  the  bridge  was  a  fair 
village,  and  all  the  people  men  and  women  cried  on  Sir 
Launcelot,  and  said,  "  A  worse  deed  didst  thou  never  for 
thyself,  for  thou  hast  slain  the  chief  porter  of  our  castle." 

Sir  Launcelot  let  them  say  what  they  would,  and  straight 
he  went  into  the  castle ;  and  when  he  came  into  the  castle 
he  alighted,  and  tied  his  horse  to  a  ring  on  the  wall ;  and 
there  he  saw  a  fair  green  court,  and  thither  he  dressed 
himself,  for  there  him  thought  was  a  fair  place  to  fight  in. 
So  he  looked  about,  and  saw  much  people  in  doors  and 
windows,  that  said,  "  Fair  knight,  thou  art  unhappy." 

Anon  withal  came  there  upon  him  two  great  giants, 
well  armed  all  save  the  heads,  with  two  horrible  clubs  in 
their  hands.  Sir  Launcelot  put  his  shield  afore  him,  and 
ptft  the  stroke  away  of  the  one  giant,  and  with  his  sword 
he  clave  his  head  asunder.  When  his  fellow  saw  that,  he 
ran  away  as  he  were  wood  [crazy],  for  fear  of  the  horrible 
strokes,  and  Sir  Launcelot  after  him  with  all  his  might, 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  67 

and  smote  him  on  the  shoulder,  and  clave  him  to  the  mid- 
dle. Then  Sir  Launcelot  went  into  the  hall,  and  there 
came  afore  him  threescore  ladies  and  damsels,  and  all 
kneeled  unto  him,  and  thanked  God  and  him  of  their 
deliverance. 

"For,  sir,"  said  they,  "the  most  part  of  us  have  been 
here  this  seven  year  their  prisoners,  and  we  have  worked 
all  manner  of  silk  works  for  our  meat,  and  we  are  all 
great  gentlewomen  born,  and  blessed  be  the  time,  knight, 
that  ever  thou  wert  born ;  for  thou  hast  done  the  most 
worship  that  ever  did  knight  in  the  world,  that  will  we 
bear  record,  and  we  all  pray  you  to  tell  us  your  name, 
that  we  may  tell  our  friends  who  delivered  us  out  of 
prison." 

"  Fair  damsels,"  he  said,  "  my  name  is  Sir  Launcelot  du 
Lake." 

"Ah,  sir,"  said  they  all,  "well  mayest  thou  be  he,  for 
else  save  yourself,  as  we  deemed,  there  might  never  knight 
have  the  better  of  these  two  giants,  for  many  fair  knights 
have  assayed  it,  and  here  have  ended,  and  many  times  have 
we  wished  after  you,  and  these  two  giants  dread  never 
knight  but  you." 

"Now  may  ye  say,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "unto  your 
friends,  how  and  who  hath  delivered  you,  and  greet  them 
all  from  me,  and  if  that  I  come  in  any  of  your  marches 
[boundaries]  show  me  such  cheer  as  ye  have  cause  ;  and 
what  treasure  that  there  is  in  this  castle  I  give  it  you  for 
a  reward  for  your  grievance:  and  the  lord  that  is  the 
owner  of  this  castle  I  would  that  he  received  it  as  is  right." 

"  Fair  sir,"  said  they,  "  the  name  of  this  castle  is  Tinta- 
gil,  and  a  duke  owned  it  some  time  that  had  wedded  fair 
Igraine,  and  after  wedded  her  Uther  Pendragon." 

"Well,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "I  understand  to  whom 
this  castle  belongeth." 


68  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

And  so  he  departed  from  them  and  betaught  [com- 
mended'} them  unto  God.  And  then  he  mounted  upon  his 
horse,  and  rode  into  many  strange  and  wild  countries  and 
through  many  waters  and  valleys,  and  evil  was  he  lodged. 
And  at  the  last  by  fortune  him  happened  against  a  night 
to  come  to  a  fair  curtilage  [enclosure],  and  therein  he  found 
an  old  gentlewoman  that  lodged  him  with  a  good  will,  and 
there  he  had  good  cheer  for  him  and  his  horse.  And  when 
time  was,  his  host  brought  him  into  a  fair  garret  over  the 
gate  to  his  bed.  There  Sir  Launcelot  unarmed  him,  and 
set  his  harness  by  him,  and  went  to  bed,  and  anon  he  fell 
on  sleep.  So  soon  after  there  came  one  on  horseback,  and 
knocked  at  the  gate  in  great  haste.  And  when  Sir  Launce- 
lot heard  this  he  arose  up,  and  looked  out  at  the  window, 
and  saw  by  the  moonlight  three  knights  came  riding  after 
one  man,  and  all  three  lashed  on  him  at  once  with  swords, 
and  that  one  knight  turned  on  them  knightly  again  and 
defended  him. 

"Truly,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "yonder  one  knight  shall 
I  help,  for  it  were  shame  for  me  to  see  three  knights  on 
one,  and  if  he  be  slain  I  am  partner  of  his  death." 

And  therewith  he  took  his  harness  and  went  out  at  a 
window  by  a  sheet  down  to  the  four  knights,  and  then  Sir 
Launcelot  said  on  high  [in  a  loud  voice\  "Turn  you 
knights  unto  me,  and  leave  your  righting  with  that 
knight." 

And  then  they  all  three  left  Sir  Kay,  and  turned  unto 
Sir  Launcelot,  and  there  began  great  battle,  for  they 
alighted  all  three,  and  struck  many  great  strokes  at  Sir 
Launcelot,  and  assailed  him  on  every  side.  Then  Sir  Kay 
dressed  him  for  to  have  holpen  Sir  Launcelot. 

"  Nay,  sir,"  said  he,  "  I  will  none  of  your  help,  therefore 
as  ye  will  have  my  help  let  me  alone  with  them." 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  69 

Sir  Kay  for  the  pleasure  of  the  knight  suffered  him  to 
io  his  will,  and  so  stood  aside.  And  then  anon  within  six 
itrokes  Sir  Launcelot  had  stricken  them  to  the  earth. 

And  then  they  all  three  cried,  "  Sir  knight,  we  yield 
us  unto  you  as  man  of  might  matchless." 

"  As  to  that,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  I  will  not  take  your 
yielding  unto  me,  but  so  that  ye  yield  you  unto  Sir  Kay 
the  seneschal ;  on  that  covenant  I  will  save  your  lives  and 
else  not." 

"  Fair  knight,"  said  they,  "that  were  we  loath  to  do ;  for 
as  for  Sir  Kay  we  chased  him  hither,  and  had  overcome 
him  had  not  ye  been ;  therefore  to  yield  us  unto  him  it  were 
no  reason." 

"  Well,  as  to  that,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  advise  you  well, 
for  ye  may  choose  whether  ye  will  die  or  live,  for  and  [if] 
ye  be  yielden  it  shall  be  unto  Sir  Kay." 

"  Fair  knight,"  then  they  said,  "  in  saving  our  lives  we 
will  do  as  thou  commandest  us." 

"Then  shall  ye,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "on  Whitsunday 
next  coming  go  unto  the  court  of  King  Arthur,  and  there 
shall  ye  yield  you  unto  Queen  Guenever,  and  put  you  all 
three  in  her  grace  and  mercy,  and  say  that  Sir  Kay  sent 
you  thither  to  be  her  prisoners." 

"  Sir,"  they  said,  "  it  shall  be  done  by  the  faith  of  our 
bodies,  and  we  be  living." 

And  there  they  swore,  every  knight  upon  his  sword. 
And  so  Sir  Launceiot  suffered  them  so  to  depart.  And 
then  Sir  Launcelot  knocked  at  the  gate  with  the  pommel 
of  his  sword,  and  with  that  came  his  host,  and  in  they 
entered,  Sir  Kay  and  he. 

"  Sir,"  said  his  host,  "  I  wend  ye  had  been  in  your  bed." 

"  So  I  was,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  but  I  arose  and  leaped 
out  at  my  window  for  to  help  an  old  fellow  of  mine." 


jo  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

And  so  when  they  came  nigh  the  light  Sir  Kay  knew 
well  that  it  was  Sir  Launcelot,  and  therewith  he  kneeled 
down  and  thanked  him  of  all  his  kindness  that  he  hath 
holpen  him  twice  from  the  death. 

"  Sir,"  he  said,  "  I  have  done  nothing  but  that  I  ought 
to  do,  and  ye  are  welcome,  and  here  shall  ye  repose  you 
and  take  your  rest." 

So  when  Sir  Kay  was  unarmed  he  asked  after  meat,  so 
there  was  meat  fetched  him,  and  he  ate  strongly.  And 
when  he  had  supped  they  went  to  their  beds,  and  were 
lodged  together  in  one  bed.  On  the  morn  Sir  Launcelot 
arose  early,  and  left  Sir  Kay  sleeping :  and  Sir  Launcelot 
took  Sir  Kay's  armor  and  his  shield  and  armed  him :  and 
so  he  went  to  the  stable  and  took  his  horse,  and  took  his 
leave  of  his  host,  and  so  he  departed.  Then  soon  after 
arose  Sir  Kay  and  missed  Sir  Launcelot :  and  then  he 
espied  that  he  had  his  armor  and  his  horse. 

"  Now,  by  my  faith,  I  know  well  that  he  will  grieve  some 
of  King  Arthur's  court :  for  on  him  knights  will  be  bold, 
and  deem  that  it  is  I,  and  that  will  beguile  them ;  and 
because  of  his  armor  and  shield,  I  am  sure  that  I  shall 
ride  in  peace."  And  then  soon  after  departed  Sir  Kay, 
and  thanked  his  host. 


CHAPTER   IX. 
How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  FOLLOWED  A  BRACKET  INTO  A  CASTLE,  WHERE 

AS     HE     FOUND    A    DEAD    KNIGHT,    AND    HOW    AFTERWARD     HE    WAS 
REQUIRED  OF  A   DAMSEL  FOR  TO  HEAL   HER  BROTHER. 

NOW  let  us  speak  of  Sir  Launcelot,  that  rode  a  great 
while  in  a  deep  forest,  where  he  saw  a  black  brachet 
[small  hound],  seeking  in  manner  as  it  had  been  in  the 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  71 

fealty  \track\  of  an  hurt  deer,  and  therewith  he  rode  after 
the  brachet ;  and  he  saw  lie  on  the  ground  a  large  fealty 
of  blood,  and  then  Sir  Launcelot  rode  after,  and  ever  the 
brachet  looked  behind  her.  And  so  she  went  through  a 
great  marish  [mars/i],  and  ever  Sir  Launcelot  followed ; 
and  then  was  he  ware  of  an  old  manor,  and  thither  ran 
the  brachet,  and  so  over  the  bridge.  So  Sir  Launcelot 
rode  over  the  bridge,  that  was  old  and  feeble.  And  when 
he  came  into  the  midst  of  a  great  hall,  there  saw  he  lie 
a  dead  knight,  that  was  a  seemly  man,  and  that  brachet 
licked  his  wounds.  And  therewith  came  out  a  lady  weep- 
ing and  wringing  her  hands,  and  she  said,  "  O  knight,  too 
much  sorrow  hast  thou  brought  me." 

"  Why  say  ye  so  ? "  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  I  did  never  this 
knight  no  harm,  for  hither  by  track  of  blood  this  brachet 
brought  me ;  and  therefore,  fair  lady,  be  not  displeased 
with  me,  for  I  am  full  sore  aggrieved  of  your  grievance." 

"  Truly,  sir,"  she  said,  "  I  trow  it  be  not  ye  that  have 
slain  my  husband,  for  he  that  did  that  deed  is  sore 
wounded,  and  he  is  never  likely  to  recover,  that  shall  I 
ensure  him." 

"  What  was  your  husband's  name  ? "  said  Sir  Launcelot. 

"Sir,"  said  she,  "his  name  was  called  Sir  Gilbert,  one 
of  the  best  knights  of  the  world,  and  he  that  hath  slain 
him  I  know  not  his  name." 

"  Now  God  send  you  better  comfort,"  said  Sir  Launce- 
lot. 

And  so  he  departed  and  went  into  the  forest  again,  and 
there  he  met  with  a  damsel,  the  which  knew  him  well,  and 
she  said  aloud,  "  Well  be  ye  found,  my  lord ;  and  now  I 
require  thee  on  thy  knighthood  help  my  brother  that  is 
sore  wounded,  and  never  stinteth  bleeding,  for  this  day 
fought  he  with  Sir  Gilbert  and  slew  him  in  plain  battle, 


72  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

and  there  was  my  brother  sore  wounded,  and  there  is  a 
lady  a  sorceress  that  dwelleth  in  a  castle  here  beside,  and 
this  day  she  told  me  my  brother's  wounds  should  never 
be  whole  till  I  could  find  a  knight  that  would  go  into  the 
Chapel  Perilous,  and  there  he  should  find  a  sword  and  a 
bloody  cloth  that  the  wounded  knight  was  lapped  in,  and 
a  piece  of  that  cloth  and  sword  should  heal  my  brother's 
wounds,  so  that  his  wounds  were  searched  \touched\  with 
the  sword  and  the  cloth." 

"This  is  a  marvellous  thing,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "but 
what  is  your  brother's  name  ? " 

"  Sir,"  said  she,  "  his  name  is  Sir  Meliot  de  Logres." 

"  That  me  repenteth,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  for  he  is  a 
fellow  of  the  Table  Round,  and  to  his  help  I  will  do  my 
power." 

"  Then,  sir,"  said  she,  "  follow  even  this  high  way,  and 
it  will  bring  you  unto  the  Chapel  Perilous,  and  here  I 
shall  abide  till  God  send  you  here  again,  and  but  you 
speed  I  know  no  knight  living  that  may  achieve  that 
adventure." 


CHAPTER  X. 
How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  CAME   INTO  THE  CHAPEL  PERILOUS,  AND  GAT 

THERE  OF  A  DEAD  CORPSE  A  PIECE  OF  THE  CLOTH  AND  A  SWORD. 

RIGHT  so  Sir  Launcelot  departed,  and  when  he  came 
unto  the  Chapel  Perilous  he  alighted  down,  and  tied 
his  horse  to  a  little  gate.  And  as  soon  as  he  was  within 
the  churchyard  he  saw  on  the  front  of  the  chapel  many 
fair  rich  shields  turned  up  so  down  \iipside  down\y  and 
many  of  the  shields  Sir  Launcelot  had  seen  knights  bear 
beforehand.  With  that  he  saw  by  him  stand  there  thirty 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  73 

great  knights,  more  by  a  yard  than  any  man  that  ever 
he  had  seen,  and  all  those  grinned  and  gnashed  at  Sir 
Launcelot.  And  when  he  saw  their  countenance  he 
dread  him  sore,  and  so  put  his  shield  afore  him,  and 
took  his  sword  in  his  hand  ready  unto  battle ;  and  they 
were  all  armed  in  black  harness,  ready  with  their  shields 
and  their  swords  drawn.  And  when  Sir  Launcelot  would 
have  gone  throughout  them,  they  scattered  on  every  side 
of  him,  and  gave  him  the  way,  and  therewith  he  waxed  all 
bold  and  entered  into  the  chapel,  and  then  he  saw  no 
light  but  a  dim  lamp  burning,  and  then  was  he  ware  of 
a  corpse  covered  with  a  cloth  of  silk.  Then  Sir  Launce- 
lot stooped  down  and  cut  a  piece  away  of  that  cloth,  and 
then  it  fared  under  him  as  the  earth  had  quaked  a  little ; 
therewithal  he  feared.  And  then  he  saw  a  fair  sword  lie 
by  the  dead  knight,  and  that  he  gat  in  his  hand  and  hied 
him  out  of  the  chapel.  Anon  as  ever  he  was  in  the 
chapel-yard  all  the  knights  spake  to  him  with  a  grimly 
voice,  and  said,  "  Knight,  Sir  Launcelot,  lay  that  sword 
from  thee,  or  else  thou  shalt  die." 

"Whether  I  live  or  die,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "will  no 
great  word  get  it  again,  therefore  fight  for  it  and  ye  list." 

Then  right  so  he  passed  throughout  them,  and  beyond 
the  chapel-yard  there  met  him  a  fair  damsel,  and  said, 
"  Sir  Launcelot,  leave  that  sword  behind  thee,  or  thou  wilt 
die  for  it." 

"I  leave  it  not,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "for  no  entreaties." 

"  No,"  said  she,  "  and  thou  didst  leave  that  sword,  Queen 
Guenever  should  ye  never  see." 

"  Then  were  I  a  fool  and  I  would  leave  this  sword,"  said 
Launcelot. 

"  Now  gentle  knight,"  said  the  damsel,  "  I  require  thee 
to  kiss  me  but  once." 


74  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"Nay,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "that  God  me  forbid/' 

"Well,  sir,"  said  she,  "and  thou  hadst  kissed  me  thy 
life  days  had  been  done,  but  now  alas,"  she  said,  "  I  have 
lost  all  my  labor,  for  I  ordained  this  chapel  for  thy  sake. 
And,  Sir  Launcelot,  now  I  tell  thee,  I  have  loved  thee 
this  seven  year.  But  since  I  may  not  have  [thee]  alive, 
I  had  kept  no  more  joy  in  this  world  but  to  have  [thee] 
dead.  Then  would  I  have  balmed  [thee]  and  preserved 
[thee],  and  so  have  kept  [thee]  my  life  days,  and  daily  I 
should  have  kissed  thee." 

"  Ye  say  well,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  God  preserve  me 
from  your  subtle  crafts." 

And  therewithal  he  took  his  horse  and  so  departed 
from  her.  And  when  Sir  Launcelot  was  departed  she 
took  such  sorrow  that  she  died  within  a  fourteen  night 
[fortnight],  and  her  name  was  Hellawes  the  sorceress,  lady 
of  the  castle  Nigramous.  Anon  Sir  Launcelot  met  with 
the  damsel,  Sir  Meliot's  sister.  And  when  she  saw  him 
she  clapped  her  hands  and  wept  for  joy,  and  then  they 
rode  unto  a  castle  thereby,  where  Sir  Meliot  lay.  And 
anon  as  Sir  Launcelot  saw  him  he  knew  him,  but  he  was 
pale  as  the  earth  for  bleeding.  When  Sir  Meliot  saw  Sir 
Launcelot,  he  kneeled  upon  his  knees  and  cried  on  high : 
"  O  lord  Sir  Launcelot  help  me ! "  Anon  Sir  Launcelot 
leaped  unto  him,  and  touched  his  wounds  with  Sir  Gilbert's 
sword,  and  then  he  wiped  his  wounds  with  a  part  of  the 
bloody  cloth  that  Sir  Gilbert  was  wrapped  in,  and  ancn  a 
wholer  man  in  his  life  was  he  never.  And  then  there  was 
great  joy  between  them,  and  they  made  Sir  Launcelot  all 
the  cheer  that  they  might,  and  so  on  the  morn  Sir  Launce- 
lot took  his  leave,  and  bade  Sir  Meliot  hie  him  to  the  court 
of  my  lord  Arthur,  "  for  it  draweth  nigh  to  the  feast  of 
Pentecost,  and  there,  by  the  grace  of  God,  ye  shall  find 
me."  And  therewith  they  departed. 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  75 


CHAPTER  XL 
How  Sim  LAUNCELOT  AT  THE  REQUEST  OP  A  LADY  RECOVERED  A  FALCOK, 

BY  WHICH  HE  WAS  DECEIVED. 

AND  so  Sir  Launcelot  rode  through  many  strange 
countries,  over  marshes  and  valleys,  till  by  fortune 
he  came  to  a  fair  castle,  and  as  he  passed  beyond  the 
castle  him  thought '  he  heard  two  bells  ring.  And  then 
was  he  ware  of  a  falcon  came  flying  over  his  head  toward 
an  high  elm,  and  long  lines  about  her  feet,  and  as  she  flew 
unto  the  elm  to  take  her  perch,  the  lines  overcast  about  a 
bough.  And  when  she  would  have  taken  her  flight  she 
hung  by  the  legs  fast,  and  Sir  Launcelot  saw  how  she  hung, 
and  beheld  the  fair  falcon,  and  he  was  sorry  for  her.  The 
meanwhile  came  a  lady  out  of  the  castle,  and  cried  on  high, 
"  O  Launcelot,  Launcelot,  as  thou  art  flower  of  all  knights 
help  me  to  get  my  hawk,  for  and  my  hawk  be  lost  my  lord 
will  destroy  me ;  for  I  kept  the  hawk  and  she  slipped  from 
me,  and  if  my  lord  my  husband  wit  {know}  it,  he  is  so  hasty 
that  he  will  slay  me." 

"  What  is  your  lord's  name  ? "  said  Sir  Launcelot. 

"  Sir,"  she  said,  "  his  name  is  Sir  Phelot,  a  knight  that 
longeth  unto  \belongeth  unto}  the  king  of  Northgalis." 

"  Well,  fair  lady,  since  that  ye  know  my  name,  and 
require  me  of  knighthood  to  help  you,  I  will  do  what  I 
may  to  get  your  hawk,  and  yet  truly  I  am  an  ill  climber, 
and  the  tree  is^  passing  high,  and  few  boughs  to  help  me 
withal." 

And  therewith  Sir  Launcelot  alighted,  and  tied  his  horse 
to  the  same  tree,  and  prayed  the  lady  to  unarm  him.  And 

1  "  Him  thought,"  compare  methought. 


76  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

so  when  he  was  unarmed,  he  put  off  all  his  clothes  unto 
his  shirt  and  breeches,  and  with  might  and  force  climbed 
up  to  the  falcon  and  tied  the  lines  to  a  great  rotten  branch 
and  threw  the  hawk  down  with  the  branch.  Anon  the 
lady  gat  the  hawk  with  her  hand.  And  therewithal  came 
Sir  Phelot  out  of  the  groves  suddenly,  that  was  her  hus- 
band, all  armed  with  his  naked  sword  in  his  hand,  and 
said :  "  O  knight  Sir  Launcelot,  now  have  I  found  thee  as 
I  would  have  thee,"  and  stood  at  the  bole  \trunk\  of  the 
tree  to  slay  him. 

"  Ah,  lady  1 "  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  why  have  ye  betrayed 
me?" 

"  She  hath  done  as  I  commanded  her,"  said  Sir  Phelot  ; 
"  and  therefore  there  is  none  other  way  but  thine  hour  is 
come  that  thou  must  die." 

"That  were  shame,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "that  an  armed 
knight  should  slay  a  naked  man  by  treason." 

"  Thou  gettest  none  other  grace,"  said  Sir  Phelot. 

"  Truly,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  that  shall  be  thy  shame ; 
but  sith  [since]  thou  wilt  do  none  otherwise,  take  mine 
harness  with  thee,  and  hang  my  sword  upon  a  bough  that 
I  may  get  it,  and  then  do  thy  best  to  slay  me  and  thou 
canst." 

"Nay,  nay,"  said  Sir  Phelot,  "for  I  know  thee  better 
than  thou  weenest,  therefore  thou  gettest  no  weapon  and 
I  may  keep  thee  therefrom." 

"Alas,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "that  ever  any  knight  should 
die  weaponless." 

And  therewithal  he  looked  above  and  under  him,  and 
over  his  head  he  saw  a  roundspike  on  a  big  bough  leafless, 
and  brake  it  off  by  the  body  of  the  tree,  and  then  he  came 
lower,  and  awaited  how  his  own  horse  stood,  and  suddenly 
he  leaped  on  the  farther  side  of  the  horse  from  the  knight 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  77 

And  then  Sir  Phelot  lashed  at  him  eagerly,  weening  to 
have  slain  him,  but  Sir  Launcelot  put  away  the  stroke  with 
the  roundspike,  and  therewith  he  smote  him  on  the  side 
of  the  head  that  he  fell  in  a  swound  [swoon]  to  the  ground. 
Then  Sir  Launcelot  took  his  sword  out  of  his  hand,  and 
struck  his  neck  from  the  body.  Then  cried  the  lady, 
"  Alas,  why  hast  thou  slain  my  husband  ? " 

"I  am  not  causer,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "for  with  false- 
hood ye  would  have  slain  me  with  treason,  and  now  it  is 
fallen  on  you  both." 

And  then  she  s wounded  [swooned]  as  though  she  would 
die.  And  therewithal  Sir  Launcelot  got  all  his  armor  as 
well  as  he  could,  and  put  it  on  him  for  dread  of  more 
resort,  for  he  dread  that  the  knight's  castle  was  nigh. 
And  as  soon  as  he  might,  he  took  his  horse  and  departed 
thence,  and  thanked  our  Lord  God  that  he  had  escaped 
that  adventure. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  CAME  UNTO  KING  ARTHUR'S  COURT,  AND  HOW 

THERE  WERE  RECOUNTED  OF  HIS  NOBLE  FEATS  AND  ACTS. 

SIR  LAUNCELOT  came  home  two  days  afore  the 
feast  of  Pentecost.  And  King  Arthur  and  all  the 
court  were  full  glad  of  his  coming.  And  when  Sir  Gawaine, 
Sir  Ewaine,  Sir  Sagramour,  and  Sir  Ector  de  Maris  saw 
Sir  Launcelot  in  Sir  Kay's  armor,  then  they  wist  well 
it  was  he  that  smote  them  down  all  with  one  spear.  Then 
there  was  laughing  and  smiling  among  them.  And  ever 
now  and  then  came  all  the  knights  home  that  Sir  Turquine 
had  taken  prisoners,  and  they  all  honored  and  worshipped 
Sir  Launcelot.  When  Sir  Gaheris  heard  them  speak,  he 


78  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

said :  "  I  saw  all  the  battle,  from  the  beginning  to  the 
ending." 

And  there  he  told  King  Arthur  all  how  it  was,  and  how 
Sir  Turquine  was  the  strongest  knight  that  ever  he  saw 
except  Sir  Launcelot ;  there  were  many  knights  bare  him 
record,  nigh  threescore.  Then  Sir  Kay  told  the  king  how 
Sir  Launcelot  had  rescued  him  when  he  was  in  danger  to 
have  been  slain,  and  how  "he  made  the  knights  to  yield 
them  to  me,  and  not  to  him."  And  there  they  were,  all 
three,  and  bare  record.  "And,"  said  Sir  Kay,  "because 
Sir  Launcelot  took  my  harness,  and  left  me  his,  I  rode  in 
good  peace,  and  no  man  would  have  to  do  with  me."  Then 
anon  therewithal  came  the  three  knights  that  fought  with 
Sir  Launcelot  at  the  long  bridge,  and  there  they  yielded 
them  unto  Sir  Kay,  and  Sir  Kay  forsook  them,  and  said 
he  fought  never  with  them  ;  "  but  I  shall  ease  your  hearts," 
said  Sir  Kay,  "yonder  is  Sir  Launcelot  that  overcame  you." 
When  they  understood  that,  they  were  glad.  And  then 
Sir  Meliot  de  Logres  came  home,  and  told  King  Arthur 
how  Sir  Launcelot  had  saved  him  from  the  death.  And 
all  his  deeds  were  known,  how  four  queens,  sorceresses, 
had  him  in  prison,  and  how  he  was  delivered  by  King 
Bagdemagus'  daughter.  Also  there  were  told  all  the  great 
deeds  of  arms  that  Sir  Launcelot  did  betwixt  the  two 
kin^s,  that  is  to  say,  the  king  of  Northgalis  and  King 
Bagdemagus.  All  the  truth  Sir  Gahalantine  did  tell,  and 
Sir  Mador  de  la  Porte,  and  Sir  Mordred,  for  they  were  at 
that  same  tournament.  Then  came  in  the  lady  that  knew 
Sir  Launcelot  when  that  he  wounded  Sir  Belleus  at  the 
pavilion.  And  there  at  the  request  of  Sir  Launcelot,  Sir 
Belleus  was  made  knight  of  the  Round  Table. 

And  so  at  that  time  Sir  Launcelot  had  the  greatest 
name  of  any  knight  of  the  world,  and  most  he  was  hon 
ored  of  high  and  low. 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  79 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  BECAME  MAD,  AND  LEAPED  PROM  A  WINDOW. 

F  /'"^N  a  day,  that  might  be  a  matter  of  two  years  before 
L  V^  that  feast  of  Pentecost  whereof  it  will  be  told  in  the 
Book  of  Sir  Tristram,  it  happened  that  Queen  Guenever 
was  angered  with  Sir  Launcelot,  yet  truly  for  no  fault  of 
his,  but  only  because  a  certain  enchantress  had  wrought 
that  Sir  Launcelot  seemed  to  have  shamed  his  knight- 
hood. 

Then  the  queen  was  nigh  out  of  her  wit,  and  then  she 
writhed  and  weltered  as  a  mad  woman ;  and  at  the  last 
the  queen  met  with  Sir  Launcelot,  and  thus  she  said,] 
"  False  traitor  knight  that  thou  art,  look  thou  never  abide 
in  my  court,  and  not  so  hardy,  thou  false  traitor  knight 
that  thou  art,  that  ever  thou  come  in  my  sight." 

"  Alas ! "  said  Sir  Launcelot :  and  therewith  he  took 
such  an  heartly  sorrow  at  her  words  that  he  fell  down  to 
the  floor  in  a  swoon.  And  therewithal  Queen  Guenever 
departed.  And  when  Sir  Launcelot  awoke  of  his  swoon 
he  leaped  out  at  a  bay  window  into  a  garden,  and  there 
with  thorns  he  was  all  to-scratched  in  his  visage  and  his 
body,  and  so  he  ran  forth  he  wist  not  whither,  and  was 
wild  wood  \insane\  as  ever  was  man. 

"  Wit  ye  well,"  said  dame  Elaine J  to  Sir  Bors,  "  I  would 
lose  my  life  for  him  rather  than  he  should  be  hurt ;  but 
alas,  I  cast  me  never  for  to  see  him ;  and  the  chief  causer 
of  this  is  dame  Guenever." 

"Madam,"  said  dame  Brisen,  the  which  had  made  the 

1  This  is  not  Elaine,  the  maid  of  Astolat,  —  whom  we  shall  meet  hereafter 
•—but  another  Elaine. 


8o  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

enchantment  before  betwixt  Sir  Launcelot  and  her,  "I 
pray  you  heartily  let  Sir  Bors  depart  and  hie  him  with  all 
his  might,  as  fast  as  he  may,  to  seek  Sir  Launcelot.  Foi 
I  warn  you  he  is  clean  out  of  his  mind,  and  yet  he  shall 
be  well  holpen,  and  but  by  miracle." 

Then  wept  dame  Elaine,  and  so  did  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis, 
and  so  they  departed ;  and  Sir  Bors  rode  straight  unto 
Queen  Guenever,  and  when  she  saw  Sir  Bors  s.*e  wept  as 
she  were  wood. 

"  Fie  on  your  weeping,"  said  Sir  Bors,  "  for  ye  weep 
never  but  when  there  is  no  boot.  Alas ! "  said  Sir  Bors, 
"  that  ever  Sir  Launcelot's  kin  saw  you.  For  now  have 
ye  lost  the  best  knight  of  our  blood,  and  he  that  was 
all  our  leader  and  our  succor.  And  I  dare  say  and  make 
it  good,  that  all  kings,  Christian  nor  heathen,  may  not 
find  such  a  knight,  for  to  speak  of  his  nobleness  and 
courtesy  with  his  beauty  and  his  gentleness.  Alas,"  said 
Sir  Bors,  "  what  shall  we  do  that  be  of  his  blood  ?  " 

"  Alas  1 "  said  Sir  Ector  de  Maris. 

"Alas!  *  said  Sir  Lionel. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

WHAT  SOJLROW  QUEEN  GUENEVER  MADE  FOR  SIR  LAUNCELOT,  AND  HOW 
HE  WAS  SOUGHT  BY  KNIGHTS  OF  HIS  KlN. 

AND  when  the  queen  heard  them  say  so,  she  fell  to 
the  ground  in  a  deadly  sound  \swoon\ ;  and  then  Sir 
Bors  took  her,  and  [roused]  her,  and  when  she  was  come 
to  herself  again  she  kneeled  afore  the  three  knights,  and 
held  up  both  her  hands,  and  besought  them  to  seek  him, 
and  not  to  spare  for  no  goods  but  that  he  be  found,  "  for  I 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  81 

wot  well  he  is  out  of  his  mind."  And  Sir  Bors,  Sir  Ector, 
Sir  Lionel,  departed  from  the  queen,  for  they  might  not 
abide  no  longer  for  sorrow :  and  then  the  queen  sent 
them  treasure  enough  for  their  expenses,  and  so  they 
took  their  horses  and  their  armor,  and  departed.  And 
then  they  rode  from  country  to  country,  in  forests  and 
in  wildernesses  and  in  wastes,  and  ever  they  laid  watch  as 
well  both  at  forests  and  at  all  manner  of  men  as  they 
rode,  to  hearken  and  to  inquire  after  him,  as  he  that  was 
a  naked  man  in  his  shirt,  with  a  sword  in  his  hand.  And 
thus  they  rode  well  nigh  a  quarter  of  a  year,  endlong  and 
overthwart,1  in  many  places,  forests  and  wildernesses,  and 
oftentimes  were  evil  lodged  for  his  sake,  and  yet  for  all 
their  labor  and  seeking  could  they  never  hear  word  of 
him.  And  wit  ye  well  these  three  knights  were  passing 
sorry. 

Then  Sir  Gawaine,  Sir  Uwaine,  Sir  Sagramor  le  Desir- 
ous, Sir  Agloval,  and  Sir  Pcrcival  de  Galis,  took  upon 
them  by  the  great  desire  of  King  Arthur,  and  in  especial 
by  the  queen,  to  seek  throughout  all  England,  Wales,  and 
Scotland,  to  find  Sir  Launcelot.  And  with  them  rode 
eighteen  knights  more  to  bear  them  fellowship.  And  wit 
ye  well  they  lacked  no  manner  of  spending :  and  so  were 
they  three  and  twenty  knights. 

And  thus  as  these  noble  knights  rode  together,  they 
by  one  assent  departed,  and  then  they  rode  by  two,  by 
three,  and  by  four,  and  by  five ;  and  ever  they  assigned 
where  they  should  meet. 

>  "  Endlong  and  overthwart,"  lengthways  and  cros  sways  of  the  land. 


82  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

SIR  LAUNCELOT  IN  HIS  MADNESS  TOOK  A  SWORD,  AND  FOUQITI 
WITH  A  KNIGHT,  AND  AFTER  LEAPED  IN  A  BED. 

AND  now  leave  we  a  little  of  Sir  Ector  and  Sir  Perci 
val,  and  speak  we  of  Sir  Launcelot,  that  suffered 
and  endured  many  sharp  showers,  which  ever  ran  wild 
wood,  from  place  to  place,  and  lived  by  fruit  and  such  as 
he  might  get,  and  drank  water,  two  years ;  and  other 
clothing  had  he  but  little,  save  his  shirt  and  his  breeches. 
And  thus,  as  Sir  Launcelot  wandered  here  and  there,  he 
came  into  a  fair  meadow  where  he  found  a  pavilion,  and 
there  upon  a  tree  hung  a  white  shield,  and  two  swords 
hung  thereby,  and  two  spears  there  leaned  against  a  tree ; 
and  when  Sir  Launcelot  saw  the  swords,  anon  he  leaped 
to  the  one  sword,  and  took  it  in  his  hand,  and  drew  it  out, 
and  then  he  lashed  at  the  shield  that  all  the  meadow  rang 
of  the  dints  that  he  gave  with  such  a  noise  as  ten  knights 
had  fought  together.  Then  there  came  forth  a  dwarf,  and 
leaped  unto  Sir  Launcelot,  and  would  have  had  the  sword 
out  of  his  hand  ;  and  then  Sir  Launcelot  took  him  by  both 
the  shoulders  and  threw  him  to  the  ground  upon  his  neck, 
that  he  had  almost  broken  his  neck ;  and  therewithal  the 
dwarf  cried  for  help.  Then  came  forth  a  likely  knight, 
and  well  apparelled  in  scarlet,  furred  with  miniver.  And 
anon  as  he  saw  Sir  Launcelot,  he  deemed  that  he  should 
be  out  of  his  wit :  and  then  he  said  with  fair  speech, 
"  Good  man,  lay  down  that  sword,  for,  as  me  seemeth, 
thou  hast  more  need  of  sleep,  and  of  warm  clothes,  than 
to  wield  that  sword." 

"  As  for  that,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  come  not  too  nigh  ; 
for,  and  thou  do,  wit  thou  well  I  will  slay  thee." 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake  83 

And  when  the  knight  of  the  pavilion  saw  that,  he  started 
backward  within  the  pavilion.  And  then  the  dwarf  armed 
him  lightly,  and  so  the  knight  thought  by  force  and  might 
to  take  the  sword  from  Sir  Launcelot,  and  so  he  came 
stepping  out,  and  when  Sir  Launcelot  saw  him  come  so  all 
armed  with  his  sword  in  his  hand,  then  Sir  Launcelot  flew 
to  him  with  such  a  might  and  hit  him  upon  the  helm  such 
a  buffet  that  the  stroke  troubled  his  brains,  and  therewith 
the  sword  brake  in  three.  And  the  knight  fell  to  the 
earth  as  he  had  been  dead,  the  blood  bursting  out  of  his 
mouth,  nose,  and  ears.  And  then  Sir  Launcelot  ran  into 
the  pavilion,  and  rushed  even  into  the  warm  bed. 

Then  the  knight  awaked  out  of  his  swoon,  and  looked 
up  weakly  with  his  eyes,  and  then  he  asked  where  was 
that  mad  man  that  had  given  him  such  a  buffet  ?  "  for 
such  a  buffet  had  I  never  of  man's  hand." 

"Sir,"  said  the  dwarf,  "it  is  not  worship  to  hurt  him, 
for  he  is  a  man  out  of  his  wit,  and  doubt  ye  not  he  hath 
been  a  man  of  great  worship,  and  for  some  heartly  sorrow 
that  he  hath  taken  he  is  fallen  mad ;  and  me  seemeth  he 
resembleth  much  unto  Sir  Launcelot ;  for  him  I  saw  at 
the  great  tournament  beside  Lonazep." 

"Jesu  defend,"  said  that  knight,  "that  ever  that  noble 
knight  Sir  Launcelot  should  be  in  such  a  plight.  But 
whatsoever  he  be,  harm  will  I  none  do  him." 

And  this  knight's  name  was  Sir  Bliant.  Then  he  said 
unto  the  dwarf,  "  Go  thou  in  all  haste  on  horseback  unto 
my  brother  Sir  Seliaunt,  that  is  at  the  Castle  Blanche, 
and  tell  him  of  mine  adventure,  and  bid  him  bring  with 
him  an  horse -litter  and  then  will  we  bear  this  knigHt  unto 
my  castle. 


84  The  Bofs  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

How  Si*  LAUNCELOT  WAS  CARRIED  IN  A  HORSE-LITTER,  AND  HOW  Sn 
LAUNCELOT  RESCUED  SIR  BLIANT  HIS  HOST. 

SO  the  dwarf  rode  fast,  and  came  again,  and  brought 
Sir  Seliaunt  with  him,  and  six  men  with  an  horse- 
litter  ;  and  so  they  took  up  the  feather-bed  with  Sir 
Launcelot,  and  so  carried  all  with  them  to  the  Castle 
Blanche,  and  he  never  wakened  until  he  was  within  the 
castle ;  and  then  they  bound  his  hands  and  his  feet,  and 
gave  him  good  meats  and  good  drinks,  and  brought  him 
again  to  his  strength  and  his  fairness ;  but  in  his  wit  they 
could  not  bring  him  again,  nor  to  know  himself.  Thus 
Sir  Launcelot  was  there  more  than  a  year  and  a  half. 

Then  upon  a  day  this  lord  of  that  castle,  Sir  Bliant, 
took  his  arms  on  horseback  with  a  spear  to  seek  ad- 
ventures, and  as  he  rode  in  a  forest  there  met  him  two 
knights  adventurous  ;  the  one  was  Sir  Breuse  sans  Pitie, 
and  his  brother  Sir  Bertlot.  And  these  two  ran  both 
at  once  upon  Sir  Bliant,  and  brake  both  their  spears 
upon  his  body,  and  then  they  drew  out  their  swords  and 
made  a  great  battle  and  fought  long  together ;  but  at  the 
last  Sir  Bliant  was  sore  wounded,  and  felt  himself  faint, 
and  then  he  fled  on  horseback  toward  his  castle.  And 
as  they  came  hurling  under  the  castle,  where  Sir  Launce- 
lot lay  in  a  window  and  saw  two  knights  laid  upon  Sir 
Bliant  with  their  swords,  and  when  Sir  Launcelot  saw 
that,  yet  as  wood  \crazy\  as  he  was,  he  was  sorry  for  his 
lord  Sir  Bliant ;  and  then  Sir  Launcelot  brake  his  chains 
from  his  legs. 

And  so  Sir  Launcelot  ran  out  at  a  postern,  and  there 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  85 

he  met  with  the  two  knights  that  chased  Sir  Bliant,  and 
there  he  pulled  down  Bertlot  with  his  bare  hands  from  hia 
horse,  and  therewithal  he  writhed  his  sword  out  of  his 
hands,  and  so  he  leaped  unto  Sir  Breuse,  and  gave  him 
such  a  buffet  upon  the  head  that  he  tumbled  backward 
over  his  horse's  crupper.  And  when  Sir  Bertlot  saw  his 
brother  have  such  a  fall,  he  gat  a  spear  in  his  hand,  and 
would  have  run  Sir  Launcelot  through.  That  saw  Sir 
Bliant,  and  struck  off  the  hand  of  Sir  Bertlot ;  and  then 
Sir  Breuse  and  Sir  Bertlot  gat  their  horses  and  fled  away. 
When  Sir  Seliaunt  came,  and  saw  what  Sir  Launcelot  had 
done  for  his  brother,  then  he  thanked  God,  and  so  did  his 
brother,  that  ever  they  did  him  any  good.  But  when  Sir 
Bliant  saw  that  Sir  Launcelot  was  hurt  with  the  break- 
ing of  his  chains,  then  he  was  sorry  that  he  had  bound 
him.  "Bind  him  no  more,"  said  Sir  Seliaunt,  "for  he  is 
happy  and  gracious."  Then  they  made  great  joy  of  Sir 
Launcelot,  and  they  bound  him  no  more  ;  and  so  he  abode 
there  half  a  year  and  more.  And  in  a  morning  early  Sir 
Launcelot  was  ware  where  came  a  great  boar,  with  many 
hounds  nigh  him  ;  but  the  boar  was  so  big  that  there 
might  no  hounds  tear  him,  and  the  hunters  came  after 
blowing  their  horns  both  on  horseback  and  on  foot ;  and 
at  the  last  Sir  Launcelot  was  ware  where  one  of  them 
alighted  and  tied  his  horse  to  a  tree,  and  leaned  his  spear 
against  the  tree. 

So  came  Sir  Launcelot  and  found  the  horse  bound  to  a 
tree,  and  a  spear  leaning  against  a  tree,  and  a  sword  tied 
unto  the  saddle  bow.  And  then  Sir  Launcelot  leaped  in- 
to the  saddle,  and  gat  that  spear  in  his  hand,  and  then  he 
rode  after  the  boar ;  and  then  Sir  Launcelot  was  ware  where 
the  boar  set  his  back  to  a  tree,  fast  by  an  hermitage. 
Then  Sir  Launcelot  ran  at  the  boar  with  his  spear.  And 


86  The  Boy's  King  Arthur 

therewith  the  boar  turned  him  nimbly,  and  rove  [gashed] 
out  the  lungs  and  the  heart  of  the  horse,  so  that  Sit 
Launcelot  fell  to  the  earth,  and  or  ever  Sir  Launcelot 
might  get  from  the  horse,  the  boar  rove  him  on  the  brawn 
of  the  thigh,  up  to  the  hough  bone.  And  then  Sir 
Launcelot  was  wroth,  and  up  he  gat  upon  his  feet,  and 
drew  his  sword,  and  he  smote  off  the  boar's  head  at 
one  stroke.  And  therewithal  came  out  the  hermit,  and 
saw  him  have  such  a  wound;  then  the  hermit  came  to 
Sir  Launcelot  and  bemoaned  him,  and  would  have  had 
him  home  unto  his  hermitage.  But  when  Sir  Launcelot 
heard  him  speak,  he  was  so  wroth  with  his  wound  that  he 
ran  upon  the  hermit  to  have  slain  him,  and  the  hermit 
ran  away,  and  when  Sir  Launcelot  might  not  overget  him 
he  threw  his  sword  after  him,  for  Sir  Launcelot  might  go 
no  farther  for  bleeding.  Then  the  hermit  turned  again, 
and  asked  Sir  Launcelot  how  he  was  hurt. 

"  Fellow,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,   "  this  boar  hath  bitten 


me  sore." 


"  Then  come  with  me,"  said  the  hermit,  "  and  I  shall 
heal  you." 

"  Go  thy  way,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  and  deal  not  with 
me." 

Then  the  hermit  ran  his  way,  and  there  he  met  with  a 
good  knight  with  many  men. 

"  Sir,"  said  the  hermit,  "  here  is  fast  by  my  place  the 
goodliest  man  that  ever  I  saw,  and  he  is  sore  wounded  with 
a  boar,  and  yet  he  hath  slain  the  boar.  But  well  I  wot 
and  he  be  not  holpen,  that  goodly  man  shall  die  of  that 
wound,  and  that  were  great  pity." 

Then  that  knight,  at  the  desire  of  the  hermit,  gat  a 
cart,  and  in  that  cart  that  knight  put  the  boar  and  Sir 
Launcelot,  for  Sir  Launcelot  was  so  feeble  that  they 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  87 

might  right  easily  deal  with  him.  And  so  Sir  Launcelot 
was  brought  unto  the  hermitage,  and  there  the  hermit 
healed  him  of  his  wound.  But  the  hermit  might  not  find 
Sir  Launcelot's  sustenance,  and  so  he  impaired  and  waxed 
feeble,  both  of  his  body  and  of  his  wit,  for  the  default  ot 
his  sustenance,  and  waxed  more  wood  than  he  was  afore- 
hand.  And  then,  upon  a  day,  Sir  Launcelot  ran  his  way 
into  the  forest ;  and  by  adventure  came  into  the  city  of 
Corbin,  where  dame  Elaine  was. 

And  so  when  he  was  entered  into  the  town,  he  ran 
through  the  town  to  the  castle ;  and  then  all  the  young 
men  of  the  city  ran  after  Sir  Launcelot,  and  there  they 
threw  turfs  at  him,  and  gave  him  many  sad  strokes ;  and 
as  Sir  Launcelot  might  reach  any  of  them,  he  threw  them 
so  that  they  would  never  more  come  in  his  hands,  for  of 
some  he  brake  their  legs,  and  some  their  arms,  and  so 
fled  into  the  castle.  And  then  came  out  knights  and 
squires  for  to  rescue  Sir  Launcelot,  and  when  they  beheld 
him  and  looked  upon  his  person,  they  thought  they  saw 
never  so  goodly  a  man ;  and  when  they  saw  so  many 
wounds  upon  him,  they  all  deemed  that  he  had  been  a 
man  of  worship.  And  then  they  ordained  clothes  unto 
his  body,  and  straw  underneath  him,  and  a  little  house, 
and  then  every  day  they  would  throw  him  meat,  and  set 
him  drink,  but  there  were  few  or  none  that  would  bring 
meat  to  his  hands. 


88  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  WAS  KNOWN  BY  DAME  ELAINE,  AND  HOW  Hi 

WAS    BORNE    INTO    A    CHAMBER,  AND    AFTER    HEALED    BY    THE     HOLY 

GRAIL, 

SO  it  befell  that  King  Pelles  had  a  nephew  whose  name 
was  Castor,  and  he  desired  of  the  king  his  uncle  for 
to  be  made  knight ;  and  so  at  the  request  of  this  Castor, 
the  king  made  him  knight  at  the  feast  of  Candlemas. 
And  when  Castor  was  made  knight,  that  same  day  he 
gave  many  gowns  ;  and  so  Sir  Castor  sent  for  the  fool, 
that  was  Sir  Launcelot,  and  when  [Sir  Launcelot]  saw  his 
time,  he  went  into  the  garden  and  there  laid  him  down  by 
a  well  and  slept.  And  in  the  afternoon  dame  Elaine  and 
her  maidens  went  into  the  garden  for  to  play  them ;  and 
as  they  roamed  up  and  down,  one  of  dame  Elaine's  maid- 
ens espied  where  lay  a  goodly  man  by  the  well  sleeping, 
and  anon  showed  him  to  dame  Elaine. 

"Peace,"  said  dame  Elaine,  "and  say  no  word." 
And  then  she  brought  dame  Elaine  where  he  lay.  And 
when  that  she  beheld  him,  anon  she  fell  in  remembrance 
of  him,  and  knew  him  verily  for  Sir  Launcelot,  and  there- 
withal she  fell  on  weeping  so  heartily  that  she  sank  even 
to  the  earth.  And  when  she  had  thus  wept  a  great  while, 
then  she  arose  and  called  her  maidens,  and  said  she  was 
sick.  And  so  she  went  out  of  the  garden,  and  she  went 
straight  to  her  father,  and  there  she  took  him  apart  by 
himself,  and  then  she  said,  "  O  father,  now  have  I  need 
of  your  help,  and  but  if  that  ye  help  me,  farewell  my 
good  days  for  ever." 

"  What  is  that,  daughter  ? "  said  King  Pelles. 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  89 

"Sir,"  she  said,  "thus  is  it :  in  your  garden  I  went  for 
to  sport,  and  there  by  the  well  I  found  Sir  Launcelot  du 
Lake  sleeping." 

"  I  may  not  believe  that,"  said  King  Pelles. 

"Sir,"  she  said,  "truly  he  is  there,  and  me  seemeth 
he  should  be  distract  out  of  his  wit." 

"Then  hold  you  still,"  said  the  king,  "and  let  me  deal." 

Then  the  king  called  to  him  such  as  he  most  trusted, 
four  persons,  and  dame  Elaine  his  daughter.  And  when 
they  came  to  the  well  and  beheld  Sir  Launcelot,  anon 
dame  Brisen  knew  him. 

"Sir,"  said  dame  Brisen,  "we  must  be  wise  how  we 
deal  with  him,  for  this  knight  is  out  of  his  mind,  and  if 
we  awake  him  rudely,  what  he  wil\  do  we  all  know  not. 
But  ye  shall  abide,  and  I  shall  throw  such  an  enchantment 
upon  him  that  he  shall  not  awake  within  the  space  of  an 
hour." 

And  so  she  did.  Then  within  a  little  while  after  King 
Pelles  commanded  that  all  people  should  avoid  \leave\, 
that  none  should  be  in  that  way  there  as  the  king  would 
come.  And  so  when  this  was  done,  these  four  men  and 
these  ladies  laid  hand  on  Sir  Launcelot.  And  so  they 
bare  him  into  a  tower,  and  so  into  the  chamber  where 
as  was  the  [Holy  Grail],  and  by  force  Sir  Launcelot  was 
laid  by  that  holy  vessel ;  and  then  there  came  an  holy 
man  ana  uncovered  the  vessel,  and  so  by  miracle,  and  by 
virtue  of  that  holy  vessel,  Sir  Launcelot  was  all  healed 
and  recovered.  And  when  he  was  awaked,  he  groaned, 
and  sighed  sore,  and  complained  greatly  that  he  was 
passing  sore. 

And  when  Sir  Launcelot  saw  King  Pelles  and  dame 
Elaine,  he  waxed  ashamed,  and  thus  he  said,  "O  good 
Lord  Jesu,  how  came  I  here  ?  for  God's  sake,  my  lord,  let 
me  wit  how  I  came  here." 


90  The  Boy's  King  Arthur 

"Sir,"  said  dame  Elaine,  "into  this  country  ye  came 
like  a  mad  man  all  out  of  your  wit,  and  here  ye  have  been 
kept  as  a  fool,  and  no  creature  here  knew  what  ye  were 
till  that  by  fortune  a  maid  of  mine  brought  me  unto  you 
where  as  ye  lay  sleeping  by  a  well  side,  and  anon  as  I 
verily  beheld  you  I  knew  you  ;  and  then  I  told  my  father, 
and  so  ye  were  brought  before  this  holy  vessel,  and  by  the 
virtue  of  it  thus  were  ye  healed." 

"  O  Jesu,  mercy ! "  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  if  this  be  sooth, 
how  many  be  there  that  know  of  my  woodness  ? " 

"So  God  me  help,"  said  dame  Elaine,  "no  moe  [more] 
but  my  father  and  I  and  dame  Brisen." 

"Now  for  Christ's  love,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "keep  it 
secret,  and  let  no  man  know  it  in  the  world,  for  I  am 
sore  ashamed  that  I  have  been  thus  miscarried,  for  I 
am  banished  out  of  the  country  of  Logris  for  ever,  that  is 
for  to  say  the  country  of  England." 

And  so  Sir  Launcelot  lay  more  than  a  fortnight,  or  ever 
that  he  might  stir  for  soreness. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

OF  A  GREAT  TOURNAMENT  IN  THE  JOYOUS  ISLE,  AND  HOW  SIR  FERCIVAI 
FOUGHT  WITH  HIM ;  HOW  EACH  OF  THEM  KNEW  OTHER,  AND  OF  THEU 
GREAT  COURTESY,  AND  HOW  HIS  BROTHER  SIR  ECTOR  CAME  UNTO  HIM, 
AND  OF  THEIR  JOY. 

AND  then  after  this  King  Pelles  with  ten  knights,  and 
dame  Elaine  and  twenty  ladies,  rode  unto  the  castle 
of  Bliant,  that  stood  in  an  island  enclosed  in  iron,  with  a 
fair  water,  deep  and  large.     Ami  when  they  were  there 
Sir  Launcelot  let  call  it  the  Joyous  Isle,  and  there  was 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  91 

he  called  none  otherwise  but  Le  Chevalier  Mai  Fait,  the 
knight  tJiat  hath  trespassed.  Then  Sir  Launcelot  let  make 
him  a  shield  all  of  sable,  and  a  queen  crowned  in  the 
midst  all  of  silver,  and  a  knight,  clean  armed,  kneeling 
before  her ;  and  every  day  once,  for  any  mirths  that  all 
the  ladies  might  make  him,  he  would  once  every  day  look 
towards  the  realm  of  Logris  where  King  Arthur  and 
Queen  Guenever  were,  and  then  would  he  fall  upcn 
weeping  as  though  his  heart  should  to-brast  [burst  to 
pieces].  So  it  fell  that  time  that  Sir  Launcelot  heard 
of  a  jousting  fast  by  his  castle,  within  three  leagues. 
Then  he  called  unto  him  a  dwarf,  and  he  bade  him  go 
unto  that  jousting,  "  and,  or  ever  the  knights  depart,  look 
thou  make  there  a  cry  in  the  hearing  of  all  the  knights, 
that  there  is  one  knight  in  the  Joyous  Isle,  that  is  the 
castle  Bliant,  and  say  that  his  name  is  Le  Chevalier  Mai 
Fait,  that  will  joust  against  knights  that  will  come  ;  and 
who  that  putteth  that  knight  to  the  worst  shall  have  a 
fair  maid  and  a  gerfalcon." 

So  when  this  cry  was  made,  unto  Joyous  Isle  drew 
knights  to  the  number  of  five  hundred.  And  wit  ye 
well  there  was  never  seen  in  Arthur's  days  one  knight 
that  did  so  much  deeds  of  arms  as  Sir  Launcelot  did  three 
days  together.  For  he  had  the  better  of  all  the  five  hun- 
dred knights,  and  there  was  not  one  slain  of  them.  And 
after  that  Sir  Launcelot  made  them  all  a  great  feast. 
And  in  the  meanwhite  came  Sir  Percival  de  Galis  and 
Sir  Ector  de  Maris  under  that  castle  that  was  called  the 
Joyous  Isle.  And  as  they  beheld  that  gay  castle  they 
would  have  gone  to  that  castle,  but  they  might  not  for 
the  broad  water,  and  bridge  could  they  find  none.  Then 
they  saw  on  the  other  side  a  lady  with  a  sperhawk  in  her 
hand,  and  Sir  Percival  called  unto  her,  and  asked  that  lady 
who  was  in  that  castle. 


92  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"  Fair  knight,"  she  said,  "  here  within  this  castle  is  the 
fairest  lady  in  this  land,  and  her  name  is  Elaine.  Also 
we  have  in  this  castle  the  fairest  knight  and  the  mightiest 
man  that  is,  I  dare  say,  living,  and  he  calleth  himself  Le 
Chevalier  Mai  Fait." 

"  How  came  he  into  these  marches  ? "  said  Sir  Percival. 

"  Truly,"  said  the  damsel,  "  he  came  into  this  country 
like  a  mad  man,  with  dogs  and  boys  chasing  him  through 
the  city  of  Corbin  ;  and  by  the  Holy  Grail  he  was  brought 
into  his  wit  again,  but  he  will  not  do  battle  with  no  knight 
but  by  underne  [nine  in  the  morning}  or  by  noon.  And  if 
ye  list  to  come  into  the  castle,  ye  must  ride  unto  the 
further  side  of  the  castle,  and  there  shall  ye  find  a  vessel 
that  will  bear  you  and  your  horse." 

Then  they  departed  and  came  unto  the  vessel.  And 
then  Sir  Percival  alighted  and  said  unto  Sir  Ector  de 
Maris,  "  Ye  shall  abide  <ne  here,  until  I  know  what  manner 
of  knight  he  is,  for  it  were  a  great  shame  unto  us,  inas- 
much as  he  is  but  one  knight,  and  we  should  both  do 
battle  with  him." 

"Do  as  ye  list,"  said  Sir  Ector  dt,  Maris,  "here  shall 
I  abide  you  until  that  I  hear  of  you  again." 

Then  Sir  Percival  passed  the  water ;  and  when  he  came 
unto  the  castle  gate,  he  said  to  the  porter,  "  Go  thou  unto 
the  good  knight  within  the  castle,  and  tell  him  that  here 
is  come  an  errant  knight  to  joust  with  him." 

"  Sir,"  said  the  porter,  "  ride  ye  within  the  castle,  and 
there  shall  ye  find  a  common  place  for  jousting,  that  lords 
and  ladies  may  behold  you." 

So  anon  as  Sir  Launcelot  had  warning,  he  was  soon 
ready.  And  there  Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Launcelot  en- 
countered with  such  a  might,  and  their  spears  weie  so 
rude,  that  both  the  horses  and  the  knights  fell  to  the 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  93 

ground.  And  then  they  avoided  their  horses,  and  drew 
out  their  swords,  and  hewed  away  cantels  [pieces]  of  their 
shields,  and  hurled  together  with  their  shields  like  two 
wild  boars,  and  either  wounded  other  passing  sore.  And 
at  the  last  Sir  Percival  spake  first,  when  they  had  fought 
more  than  two  hours. 

"  Fair  knight,"  said  Sir  Percival,  "  I  require  thee  tell 
me  thy  name,  for  I  met  never  with  such  a  knight  as  ye 
are."  ' 

"Sir,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "my  name  is  Le  Chevalier 
Mai  Fait.  Now  tell  me  your  name,"  said  Sir  Launcelot, 
"I  require  you,  as  ye  are  a  gentle  knight." 

"  Truly,"  said  Sir  Fercival,  "  my  name  is  Sir  Percival  de 
Galis,  which  is  brother  unto  the  good  knight  Sir  Lamorack 
de  Galis,  and  King  Pellinore  was  our  father,  and  Sir  Agla- 
val  is  my  brother." 

"Alas  ! "  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "what  have  I  done,  to  fight 
with  you  that  are  a  knight  of  the  Round  Table,  that  some 
time  was  your  fellow  in  King  Arthur's  court  ? " 

And  therewithal  Sir  Launcelot  kneeled  down  upon  his 
knees,  and  threw  away  his  shield  and  his  sword  from  him. 
When  Sir  Percival  saw  him  do  so,  he  marvelled  what  he 
meant.  And  then  thus  he  said,  "  Sir  knight,  whatsoever 
thou  be,  I  require  thee  upon  the  high  order  of  knight- 
hood, tell  me  thy  true  name." 

Then  he  said,  "Truly  my  name  is  Sir  Launcelot  du 
Lake,  King  Ban's  son  of  Benoy." 

"Alas  !  "  said  Sir  Percival,  "what  have  I  done  !  I  was 
sent  by  the  queen  for  to  seek  you,  and  so  I  have  sought 
you  nigh  this  two  year ;  and  yonder  is  Sir  Ector  de  Maris 
your  brother  abideth  me  on  the  other  side  of  the  yonder 
water.  Now  I  pray  you  f<  rgive  me  mine  offence  that  I 
have  here  done." 


94  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"  It  is  soon  forgiven,"  said  Sir  Launcelot. 

Then  Sir  Percival  sent  for  Sir  Ector  de  Maris.  And 
when  Sir  Launcelot  had  a  sight  of  him,  he  ran  untc  him 
and  took  him  in  his  arms,  and  then  Sir  Ector  kneeled 
down  and  either  wept  upon  other,  that  all  had  pity  to 
behold  them.  Then  came  dame  Elaine,  and  she  there 
made  them  great  cheer  as  might  lie  in  her  power ;  and 
there  she  told  Sir  Ector  and  Sir  Percival  how  and  in  what 
manner  Sir  Launcelot  came  into  that  country,  and  how 
he  was  healed.  And  there  it  was  known  how  long  Sir 
Launcelot  was  with  Sir  Bliant  and  with  Sir  Seliuant,  and 
how  he  first  met  with  them,  and  how  he  departed  from 
them  because  of  a  boar ;  and  how  the  hermit  healed  Sir 
Launcelot  of  his  great  wound,  and  how  that  he  came  to 
Corbin. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 
How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  WITH  SIR  PERCIVAL  AND  SIR  ECTOR  CAME  TO 

THE  COURT,  AND  OF  THEIR  GREAT  JOY  OF   HlM. 

SIR,"  said  Sir  Ector,  "  I  am  your  own  brother,  and  ye 
are  the  man  in  the  world  that  I  love  most,  and,  if  I 
understood  that  it  were  your  disworship,  ye  may  right  well 
understand  that  I  would  never  counsel  you  thereto ;  but 
King  Arthur  and  all  his  knights,  and  in  especial  Queen 
Guenever,  made  such  dole  and  sorrow  that  it  rcas  marvel 
to  hear  and  see.  And  ye  must  remember  the  great 
worship  and  renown  that  ye  be  of,  how  that  ye  have 
been  more  spoken  of  than  any  other  knight  that  is  now 
living,  for  there  is  none  that  beareth  the  name  now  but 
ye  and  Sir  Tristram.  Therefore,  brother,"  said  Sir  Ector, 
"make  you  ready  to  ride  unto  the  court  with  us,  and  I 


Of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  95 

dare  well  say  there  was  never  knight  better  welcome  unto 
the  court  than  ye.  And  I  wot  well  and  can  make  it 
good,"  said  Sir  Ector,  "it  hath  cost  my  lady  the  queen 
twenty  thousand  pound  the  seeking  of  you." 

"Well,  brother,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "I  will  do  after 
your  counsel  and  ride  with  you." 

So  then  they  took  their  horses,  and  made  them  ready, 
and  took  their  leave  of  King  Pelles  and  of  dame  Elaine ; 
and  when  Sir  Launcelot  should  depart,  dame  Elaine  made 
great  sorrow. 

Then  they  departed,  and  within  five  days'  journey  they 
came  to  Camelot,  which  is  called,  in  English,  Winchester. 
And  when  Sir  Launcelot  was  come  among  them,  the  king 
and  all  the  knights  made  great  joy  of  him  ;  and  there  Sir 
Percival  de  Galis  and  Sir  Ector  de  Maris  began  to  tell  of 
all  the  adventures,  how  Sir  Launcelot  had  been  out  of  his 
mind  all  the  time  of  his  absence,  how  he  called  himself 
Le  Chevalier  Mai  Fait,  as  much  to  say  the  knight  that  had 
trespassed,  and  in  three  days  Sir  Launcelot  smote  down 
five  hundred  knights.  And  ever  as  Sir  Ector  and  Sir 
Percival  told  these  tales  of  Sir  Launcelot,  Queen  Guenever 
wept  as  she  would  have  died ;  then  afterward  the  queen 
made  great  joy. 

"  O  Jesu !  "  said  King  Arthur,  "  I  marvel  for  what  cause 
ye,  Sir  Launcelot,  went  out  of  your  mind  ? " 

"  My  lord,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  if  I  did  any  folly,  I 
have  found  that  I  sought." 

And  so  the  king  held  him  still,  and  spake  no  more ;  but 
all  Sir  Launcelot's  kin  knew  for  whom  he  went  out  of  his 
mind.  And  then  there  were  great  feasts  made  and  great 
joy,  and  many  great  lords  and  ladies,  when  they  heard  that 
Sir  Launcelot  was  come  to  the  court  again,  made  great 
joy. 


BOOK  III. 
OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY, 

WHO  WAS   CALLED  BEAUMAINS. 


CHAPTER  L 

How    BEAUMAINS  CAMS  TO  KING  ARTHUR'S  COURT,  AND  DKMANDIB 
THREE  PETITIONS  OF  KING  ARTHUR. 

WHEN  Arthur  held  his  Round  Table  most  fully,  it 
fortuned  that  he  commanded  that  the  high  feast  of 
Pentecost  should  be  holden  at  a  city  and  a  castle,  the 
which  in  those  days  was  called  King-Kenadon,  upon  the 
sands  that  marched  [bordered}  nigh  Wales.  So  ever  the 
king  had  a  custom  that  at  the  feast  of  Pentecost,  in  espe- 
cial afore  other  feasts  in  the  year,  he  would  not  go  that 
day  to  meat  until  he  had  heard  or  seen  of  a  great  marvel. 
And  for  that  custom  all  manner  of  strange  adventures 
came  before  Arthur  as  at  that  feast  before  all  other  feasts. 
And  so  Sir  Gawaine,  a  little  tofore  noon  of  the  day  of 
Pentecost,  espied  at  a  window  three  men  upon  horseback 
and  a  dwarf  on  foot.  And  so  the  three  men  alighted,  and 
the  dwarf  kept  their  horses,  and  one  of  the  three  men  was 
higher  than  the  other  twain  by  a  foot  and  a  half.  Then 
96 


Of  Sir   Gareth  of  Orkney.  97 

Sir  Gawaine  went  unto  the  king  and  said,  "  Sir,  go  to  your 
meat,  for  here  at  hand  come  strange  adventures." 

So  Arthur  went  unto  his  meat  with  many  other  kings. 
And  there  were  all  the  knights  of  the  Round  Table,  save 
those  that  were  prisoners  or  slain  at  a  recount er.  Then 
at  the  high  feast  evermore  they  should  be  fulfilled  the 
whole  number  of  an  hundred  and  fifty,  for  then  was  the 
Round  Table  fully  accomplished.  Right  so  came  into 
the  hall  two  men  well  beseen  and  richly,  and  upon  their 
shoulders  there  leaned  the  goodliest  young  man  and  the 
fairest  that  ever  they  all  saw,  and  he  was  large  and  long, 
and  broad  in  the  shoulders,  and  well  visaged,  and  the  fair- 
est and  the  largest  handed  that  ever  man  saw,  but  he  fared 
as  though  he  might  not  go  nor  bear  himself  but  if  he 
leaned  upon  their  shoulders.  Anon  as  Arthur  saw  him, 
there  was  made  peace  [silence]  and  room,  and  right  so  they 
went  with  him  unto  the  high  dais,  without  saying  of  any 
words.  Then  this  big  young  man  pulled  him  aback,  and 
easily  stretched  up  straight,  saying,  "  King  Arthur,  God 
you  bless,  and  all  your  fair  fellowship,  and  in  especial  the 
fellowship  of  the  Table  Round.  And  for  this  cause  I  am 
come  hither,  to  pray  you  and  require  you  to  give  me  three 
gifts,  and  they  shall  not  be  unreasonably  asked,  but  that 
ye  may  worshipfully  and  honorably  grant  them  me,  and  to 
you  no  great  hurt  nor  loss.  And  as  for  the  first  gift  I  will 
ask  now,  and  the  other  two  gifts  I  will  ask  this  day  twelve- 
month wheresoever  ye  hold  your  high  feast." 

"  Now  ask,"  said  Arthur,  "  and  ye  shall  have  your  ask- 
ing." 

"  Now,  sir,  this  is  my  petition  for  this  feast,  that  ye  will 
give  me  meat  and  drink  sufficiently  for  this  twelvemonth, 
and  at  that  day  I  will  ask  mine  other  two  gifts." 

"  My  fair  son,"  said  Arthur,  "  ask  better  T  counsel  thee, 


98  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

for  this  is  but  a  simple  asking,  for  my  heart  giveth  me  to 
thee  greatly  that  thou  art  come  of  men  of  worship,  and 
greatly  my  conceit  faileth  me  but  thou  shalt  prove  a  man 
of  right  great  worship/' 

"  Sir,"  said  he,  "thereof  be  as  it  may,  I  have  asked  that 
I  will  ask." 

"Well,"  said  the  king,  "ye  shall  have  meat  and  drink 
enough,  I  never  defended  that  none,  neither  my  friend  nor 
my  foe.  But  what  is  thy  name  I  would  wit  ? " 

"  I  cannot  tell  you,"  said  he. 

"That  is  marvel,"  said  the  king,  "that  thou  knowest 
not  thy  name,  and  thou  art  the  goodliest  young  man  that 
ever  I  saw." 

Then  the  king  betook  him  to  Sir  Kay,  the  steward, 
and  charged  him  that  he  should  give  him  of  all  manner 
of  meats  and  drinks  of  the  best,  and  also  that  he  had  all 
manner  of  finding  as  though  he  were  a  lord's  son. 

"That  shall  little  need,"  said  Sir  Kay,  "to  do  such  cost 
upon  him ;  for  I  dare  undertake  he  is  a  villain  born,  and 
never  will  make  man,  for  and  he  had  come  of  gentlemen 
he  would  have  asked  of  you  horse  and  armor,  but  such  as 
he  is,  so  he  asketh.  And  since  he  hath  no  name,  I  shall 
give  him  a  name  :  that  shall  be  Beaumains,  that  is  Fair- 
hands,  and  into  the  kitchen  I  shall  bring  him,  and  there 
he  shall  have  fat  browis  \brotJt\  every  day,  that  he  shall  be 
as  fat  by  the  twelvemonth's  end  as  a  pork  hog." 

Right  so  the  two  men  departed,  and  left  him  to  Sir  Kay, 
that  scorned  him  and  mocked  him. 


Of  Sir   Gareth  of  Orkney.  99 


CHAPTER  II. 

How  SIR  LAUNCILOT  AND  SIR  GAWAIN  WERE  WROTH  BECAUSE  Sii 
KAY  MOCKED  BEAUMAINS,  AND  OF  A  DAMSEL  WHICH  DESIRED  A 
KNIGHT  FOR  TO  FIGHT  FOR  A  LADY. 

THEREAT  was  Sir  Gawaine  wroth,  and  in  especial 
Sir  Launcelot  bade  Sir  Kay  leave  his  mocking,  "  for 
I  dare  lay  my  head  he  shall  prove  a  man  of  great  wor- 
ship." 

"  Let  be,"  said  Sir  Kay,  "  it  may  not  be,  by  no  reason, 
for  as  he  is,  so  hath  he  asked." 

"  Beware,"  said  Sir  Launcelot ;  "  so  ye  gave  the  good 
knight  Brewnor,  Sir  Dinadan's  brother,  a  name,  and  ye 
called  him  La  Cote  Mai  Taile,  and  that  turned  you  to 
anger  afterward." 

"  As  for  that,"  said  Sir  Kay,  "  this  shall  never  prove 
none  such  ;  for  Sir  Brewnor  desired  ever  worship,  and  this 
desireth  bread  and  drink,  and  broth ;  upon  pain  of  my  life 
he  was  fostered  up  in  some  abbey,  and,  howsoever  it  was, 
they  failed  meat  and  drink,  and  so  hither  he  is  come  for 
his  sustenance." 

And  so  Sir  Kay  bade  get  him  a  place  and  sit  down  to 
meat,  so  Beaumains  went  to  the  hall  door,  and  set  him 
down  among  boys  and  lads,  and  there  he  eat  sadly.  And 
then  Sir  Launcelot  after  meat  bade  him  come  to  his 
chamber,  and  there  he  should  have  meat  and  drink 
enough.  And  so  did  Sir  Gawaine,  but  he  refused 
them  all ;  he  would  do  none  other  but  as  Sir  Kay  com- 
manded him,  for  no  proffer.  But  as  touching  Sir  Gawaine, 
he  had  reason  to  proffer  him  lodging,  meat,  and  drink,  for 
that  prcffer  came  of  his  blood,  for  he  was  nearer  kin  to 


ioo  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

him  than  he  wist.  But  that  Sir  Launcelot  did  was  of  his 
great  gentleness  and  courtesy.  So  thus  he  was  put  into 
the  kitchen,  and  lay  nightly  as  the  boys  of  the  kitchen 
did.  And  so  he  endured  all  that  twelvemonth,  and  never 
displeased  man  nor  child,  but  always  he  was  meek  and 
mild.  But  ever  when  he  saw  any  jousting  of  knights, 
that  would  he  see  and  he  might.  And  ever  Sir  Launce- 
lot would  give  him  gold  to  spend,  and  clothes,  and  so  did 
Sir  Gawaine.  And  where  were  any  masteries  done 
thereat  would  he  be,  and  there  might  none  cast  the  bar 
or  stone  to  him  by  two  yards.  Then  would  Sir  Kay  say, 
"  How  like  you  my  boy  of  the  kitchen  ? "  So  it  passed 
on  till  the  feast  of  Pentecost,  and  at  that  time  the  king 
held  it  at  Carleon,  in  the  most  royallest  wise  that  might  be, 
like  as  yearly  he  did.  But  the  king  would  eat  no  meat 
on  the  Whitsunday  till  he  had  heard  of  some  adventure. 
And  then  came  there  a  squire  to  the  king,  and  said,  "  Sir, 
ye  may  go  to  your  meat,  for  here  cometh  a  damsel  with 
some  strange  adventure."  Then  was  the  king  glad,  and 
set  him  down.  Right  so  there  came  in  a  damsel,  and 
saluted  the  king,  and  prayed  him  for  succor. 

"  For  whom  ? "  said  the  king :  "  what  is  the  adventure  ? " 

"  Sir,"  said  she,  "  I  have  a  lady  of  great  worship  and 
renown,  and  she  is  besieged  with  a  tyrant,  so  that  she 
may  not  go  out  of  her  castle,  and  because  that  here  in 
your  court  are  called  the  noblest  knights  of  the  world,  I 
come  unto  you  and  pray  you  for  succor." 

"  What  call  ye  your  lady,  and  where  dwelleth  she,  and 
who  is  he  and  what  is  his  name  that  hath  besieged  her  ? " 

"Sir  king,"  said  she,  "as  for  my  lady's  name,  that  shall 
not  be  known  for  me  as  at  this  time ;  but  I  let  you  wit  she 
is  a  lady  of  great  worship,  and  of  great  lands.  And  as 
for  the  tyrant  that  besiegeth  her  and  destroyeth  her  land, 
he  is  called  the  Red  Knight  of  the  Red  Lawns." 


Of  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney.  101 

"  I  know  him  not,"  said  the  king. 

"  Sir,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "  I  know  him  well,  for  he  is 
one  of  the  perilous  knights  of  the  world ;  men  say  that  he 
hath  seven  men's  strength,  and  from  him  I  escaped  once 
full  hard  with  my  life." 

"Fair  damsel,"  said  the  king,  "there  be  knights  here 
that  would  do  their  power  to  rescue  your  lady,  but  because 
ye  will  not  tell  her  name  nor  where  she  dwelleth,  therefore 
none  of  my  knights  that  be  here  now  shall  go  with  you 
by  my  will." 

"  Then  must  I  speak  further,"  said  the  damsel. 


CHAPTER   III. 
How  BEAUMAINS  DESIRED  THE  BATTLE,  AND  HOW  IT  WAS  GRANTED  HIM. 

AND   HOW  HE   DESIRED  TO   BE   MADE   KNIGHT  OF   SlR  LAUNCELOT. 


with  these  words  came  before  the  king  Beau- 
mains,  while  the  damsel  was  there  ;  and  thus  he 
said  :  "  Sir  king,  God  thank  you,  I  have  been  this  twelve 
months  in  your  kitchen,  and  have  had  my  full  sustenance, 
and  now  I  will  ask  my  two  gifts  that  be  behind." 

"  Ask  upon  my  peril,"  said  the  king. 

"  Sir,  these  shall  be  my  two  gifts  :  first,  that  ye  will 
grant  me  to  have  this  adventure  of  the  damsel,  for  it 
belongeth  to  me." 

"  Thou  shalt  have  it,"  said  the  king  ;  "  I  grant  it  thee." 

"  Then,  sir,  this  is  now  the  other  gift  :  that  ye  shall  bid 
Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake  to  make  me  a  knight,  for  of  him  I 
will  be  made  knight,  and  else  of  none  ;  and  when  I  am 
passed,  I  pray  you  let  him  ride  after  me,  and  mike  me 
knight  when  I  require  him." 


IO2  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"  All  this  shall  be  done,"  said  the  king. 

"  Fie  on  thee,"  said  the  damsel ;  "  shall  I  have  none 
but  one  that  is  your  kitchen  page  ? " 

Then  was  she  wroth,  and  took  her  horse  and  departed. 
And  with  that  there  came  one  to  Beaumains,  and  told  him 
that  his  horse  and  armor  was  come  for  him,  and  there  was 
a  dwarf  come  with  all  things  that  him  needed  in  the 
richest  manner.  Thereat  all  the  court  had  much  marvel 
from  whence  came  all  that  gear.  So  when  he  was  armed, 
there  was  none  but  few  so  goodly  a  man  as  he  was.  And 
right  so  he  came  into  the  hall,  and  took  his  leave  of  King 
Arthur  and  of  Sir  Gawaine,  and  of  Sir  Launcelot,  and 
prayed  him  that  he  would  hie  after  him  ;  and  so  departed 
and  rode  after  the  damsel. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

How  BEAUMAINS  DEPARTED,  AND  HOW  HE  GOT  OF  SIR  KAY  A  SPEAI 
AND  A  SHIELD,  AND  HOW  HE  JOUSTED  AND  FOUGHT  WITH  SIR 
LAUNCELOT. 

BUT  there  went  many  after  to  behold  how  well  he 
was  horsed  and  trapped  in  cloth  of  gold,  but  he  had 
teither  shield  nor  spear.     Then  Sir  Kay  said  openly  in 
the  hall :  "  I  will  ride  after  my  boy  of  the  kitchen,  for  to 
wit  \know\  whether  he  will  know  me  for  his  better." 

Sir  Launcelot   and    Sir  Gawaine  said,  "Yet    abide   at 
home." 

So  Sir  Kay  made  him  ready,  and  took  his  horse  and  his 
s^oear,  and  rode  after  him.  And  right  as  Beaumains  over- 
took the  damsel,  right  so  came  Sir  Kay,  and  sai  d,  '"  Beau 
mains,  what  sir,  know  ye  not  me  ? " 


Of  Sir   Gareth  oj   Orkney.  103 

Then  he  turned  his  horse,  and  knew  it  was  Sir  Kay, 
that  had  done  him  all  the  despite  as  ye  have  heard  afore. 

"Yea,"  said  Beaumains,  "I  know  you  for  an  ungentle 
knight  of  the  court,  and  therefore  beware  of  me." 

Therewith  Sir  Kay  put  his  spear  in  the  rest  and  ran 
straight  upon  him,  and  Beaumains  came  as  fast  upon  him 
with  his  sword  in  his  hand ;  and  so  he  put  away  his  spear 
with  his  sword,  and  with  a  foin  [feint]  thrust  him  through 
the  side,  that  Sir  Kay  fell  down  as  he  had  been  dead,  and 
he  alighted  down  and  took  Sir  Kay's  shield  and  his  spear, 
and  started  upon  his  own  horse,  and  rode  his  way.  All  that 
saw  Sir  Launcelot,  and  so  did  the  damsel.  And  then  he 
bade  his  dwarf  start  upon  Sir  Kay's  horse,  and  so  he  did. 
By  that  Sir  Launcelot  was  come.  Then  he  proffered  Sir 
Launcelot  to  joust,  and  either  made  them  ready,  and  came 
together  so  fiercely  that  either  bare  down  other  to  the 
earth,  and  sore  were  they  bruised.  Then  Sir  Launcelot 
arose  and  helped  him  from  his  horse.  And  then  Beau- 
mains  threw  his  shield  from  him,  and  proffered  to  fight 
with  Sir  Launcelot  on  foot,  and  so  they  rushed  together 
like  boars,  tracing,  racing,  and  foining,  to  the  mounte- 
nance  [amount]  of  an  hour,  and  Sir  Launcelot  felt  him  so 
big  that  he  marvelled  of  his  strength,  for  he  fought  more 
like  a  giant  than  a  knight,  and  that  his  fighting  was  dura- 
ble and  passing  perilous.  For  Sir  Launcelot  had  so  much 
ado  with  him  that  he  dreaded  himself  to  be  shamed,  and 
said,  "  Beaumains,  fight  not  so  sore,  your  quarrel  and  mine 
is  not  so  great  but  we  may  leave  off." 

" Truly,  that  is  truth,"  said  Beaumains,  "but  it  doth  me 
good  to  fee|  your  might,  and  yet,  my  lord,  I  showed  not 
the  uttermost." 


IO4  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER  V. 

How  BEAUMAINS  TOLD  TO  SIR  LAUNCELOT  HIS  NAME,  AND  HOW  HI 

WAS  DUBBED  KNIGHT  OF  SlR  LAUNCELOT,  AND  AFTER  OVERTOOK  THJ 

DAMSEL. 

WELL,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "for  I  promise  you  by 
the  faith  of  my  body  I  had  as  much  to  do  as  I 
might  to  save  myself  from  you  unshamed,  and  therefore 
have  ye  no  doubt  of  none  earthly  knight." 

"Hope  ye  so  that  I  may  any  while  stand  a  proved 
knight  ? "  said  Beaumains. 

"Yea,"  said  Launcelot,  "do  ye  as  ye  have  done.  <ind  I 
shall  be  your  warrant." 

"Then,  I  pray  you,"  said  Beaumains,  "give  me  the 
order  of  knighthood." 

"Then  must  ye  tell  me  your  name,"  said  Launcelot, 
"and  of  what  kin  ye  be  born." 

"  Sir,  so  that  ye  will  not  discover  me  I  shall,"  said  Beau- 
mains. 

"Nay,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "and  that  I  promise  you 
by  the  faith  of  my  body,  until  it  be  openly  known." 

"  Then,  Sir,"  he  said,  "  my  name  is  Gareth,  and  brother 
unto  Sir  Gawaine,  of  father  and  mother." 

"  Ah  !  Sir,"  said  Launcelot,  "  I  am  more  gladder  of  you 
than  I  was,  for  ever  me  thought  ye  should  be  of  great 
blood,  and  that  ye  came  not  to  the  court  neither  for  meat 
nor  for  drink." 

And  then  Sir  Launcelot  gave  him  the  order  of  knight- 
hood. And  then  Sir  Gareth  prayed  him  for  to  depart, 
and  let  him  go.  So  Sir  Launcelot  departed  from  him  and 
came  to  Sir  Kay,  and  made  him  to  be  borne  home  upon 


Of  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney.  105 

his  shield,  and  so  he  was  healed  hard  with  the  life,  and  all 
men  scorned  Sir  Kay,  and  in  especial  Sir  Gawaine  and 
Sir  Launcelot  said  it  was  not  his  part  to  rebuke  [any] 
young  man,  for  full  little  knew  he  of  what  birth  he  is 
come,  and  for  what  cause  he  came  to  this  court.  And  so 
we  leave  off  Sir  Kay  and  turn  we  unto  Beaumains.  When 
he  had  overtaken  the  damsel  anon  she  said,  "What  dost 
thou  here  ?  thou  stinkest  all  of  the  kitchen,  thy  clothes 
be  foul  of  the  grease  and  tallow  that  thou  gainedst  in 
King  Arthur's  kitchen ;  weenest  thou,"  said  she,  "  that  I 
allow  thee  for  yonder  knight  that  thou  killedst  ?  Nay  truly, 
for  thou  slewest  him  unhappily  and  cowardly,  therefore 
return  again,  kitchen  page.  I  know  thee  well,  for  Sir  Kay 
named  thee  Beaumains.  What  art  thou  but  a  turner  of 
broaches  and  a  washer  of  dishes  !  " 

"Damsel/'  said  Sir  Beaumains,  "say  to  me  what  ye 
list,  I  will  not  go  from  you  whatsoever  ye  say,  for  I  have 
undertaken  of  King  Arthur  for  to  achieve  your  adventure, 
and  I  shall  finish  it  to  the  end,  or  I  shall  die  therefore." 

"Fie  on  thee,  kitchen  knave.  Wilt  thou  finish  mine 
adventure?  thou  shalt  anon  be  met  withal,  that  thou 
wouldest  not,  for  all  the  broth  that  ever  thou  suppest,  once 
look  him  in  the  face." 

"  I  shall  assay,"  said  Beaumains.  So  as  they  thus  rode 
in  the  wood,  there  came  a  man  flying  all  that  he  might. 

"  Whither  wilt  thou  ?  said  Beaumains. 

"O  lord,"  said  he,  "help  me,  for  hereby  in  a  slade 
are  six  thieves  which  have  taken  my  lord  and  bound 
him,  and  I  am  afraid  lest  they  will  slay  him." 

"  Bring  me  thither,"  said  Sir  Beaumains. 

And  so  they  rode  together  till  they  came  there  as  the 
knight  was  bound  ;  and  then  he  rode  unto  the  thieves,  and 
struck  one  at  tbe  first  stroke  to  death,  and  then  another, 


106  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

and  at  the  third  stroke  he  slew  the  third  thief ;  and  ther 
the  other  three  fled,  and  he  rode  after  and  overtook  them, 
and  then  those  three  thieves  turned  again  and  hard  as- 
sailed Sir  Beaumains ;  but  at  the  last  he  slew  them ;  and 
then  returned  and  unbound  the  knight.  And  the  knight 
thanked  him,  and  prayed  him  to  ride  with  him  to  his  castle 
there  a  little  beside,  and  he  should  worshipfully  reward 
him  for  his  good  deeds. 

"  Sir,"  said  Sir  Beaumains,  "  I  will  no  reward  have ;  I 
was  this  day  made  knight  of  the  noble  Sir  Launcelot,  and 
therefore  I  will  have  no  reward,  but  God  reward  me.  And 
also  I  must  follow  this  damsel." 

And  when  he  came  nigh  her,  she  bade  him  ride  from 
her,  "  for  thou  smellest  all  of  the  kitchen.  Weenest  thou 
that  I  have  joy  of  thee  ?  for  all  this  deed  that  thou  hast 
done  is  but  mishappened  thee.  But  thou  shalt  see  a  sight 
that  shall  make  thee  to  turn  again,  and  that  lightly." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

How  SIR  BEAUMAINS  FOUGHT  WITH  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  BLACK  LAWNS, 

AND  HE  FOUGHT  SO  LONG  WITH  HIM  THAT  THE  BLACK  KNIGHT  FELL 
DOWN  AND  DIED. 


P^T^HEN  all  the  next  day]  this  Beaumains  rode  with  that 
L  A  lady  till  even-song  time,  and  ever  she  chid  him  and 
would  not  rest.  And  then  they  came  to  a  black  lawn,  and 
there  was  a  black  hawthorn,  and  thereon  hung  a  black 
banner,  and  on  the  other  side  there  hung  a  black  shield, 
and  by  it  stood  a  black  spear  and  a  long,  and  a  great  black 
horse  covered  with  silk,  and  a  black  stone  fast  by  it. 
There  sat  a  knight  all  armed  in  black  harness,  and  his 


Of  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney.  107 

name  was  the  Knight  of  the  Black  Lawns.  When  the 
damsel  saw  the  black  knight,  she  bade  Sir  Beaumains  flee 
down  the  valley,  for  his  horse  was  not  saddled. 

"I  thank  you,"  said  Sir  Beaumains,  "for  always  ye  will 
have  me  a  coward." 

With  that  the  black  knight  came  to  the  damsel,  and 
said,  "  Fair  damsel,  have  ye  brought  this  knight  from  King 
Arthur's  court  to  be  your  champion  ? " 

"  Nay,  fair  knight,"  said  she,  "  this  is  but  a  kitchen  knave, 
that  hath  been  fed  in  King  Arthur's  kitchen  for  alms." 

"  Wherefore  cometh  he  in  such  array  ?  "  said  the  knight : 
"it  is  great  shame  that  he  beareth  you  company." 

"  Sir,  I  cannot  be  delivered  of  him,"  said  the  damsel, 
"  for  with  me  he  rideth  maugre  [in  spite  of]  mine  head ; 
would  to  God  ye  would  put  him  from  me,  or  else  to  slay 
him  if  ye  may,  for  he  is  an  unhappy  knave,  and  unhappy 
hath  he  done  to-day  through  misadventure ;  for  I  saw  him 
slay  two  knights  at  the  passage  of  the  water,  and  other 
deeds  he  did  before  right  marvellous,  and  all  through  un- 
happiness." 

"That  marvelleth  me,"  said  the  black  knight,  "that  any 
man  the  which  is  of  worship  will  have  to  do  with  him." 

"  Sir,  they  know  him  not,"  said  the  damsel,  "  and  because 
he  rideth  with  me  they  think  he  is  some  man  of  worship 
born." 

"That  may  be,"  said  the  black  knight,  "howbeit,  as  ye 
say  that  he  be  no  man  of  worship,  he  is  a  full  likely  person, 
and  full  like  to  be  a  strong  man ;  but  thus  much  shall  I 
grant  you,"  said  the  black  knight,  "  I  shall  put  him  down 
upon  his  feet,  and  his  horse  and  his  harness  he  shall 
leave  with  me,  for  it  were  shame  to  me  to  do  him  any 
more  harm." 

When  Sir  Beaumains  heard  him  say  thus,  he  said,  "  Sir 


io8  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


knight,  thou  art  full  liberal  of  my  horse  and  my  harness 
I  let  thee  wit  it  cost  thee  nought,  and  whether  it  liketh 
thee  or  not  this  lawn  will  I  pass,  maugre  thine  head,  and 
horse  nor  harness  gettest  thou  none  of  me,  but  if  thou 
win  them  with  thy  hands ;  and  therefore  let  see  what  thou 
canst  do." 

"  Sayst  thou  that  ? "  said  the  black  knight,  "  now  yield 
thy  lady  from  thee,  for  it  beseemeth  never  a  kitchen  page 
to  ride  with  such  a  lady." 

"  Thou  liest,"  said  Beaumains,  "  I  am  a  gentleman  born, 
and  of  more  high  lineage  than  thou,  and  that  will  I  prove 
on  thy  body." 

Then  in  great  wrath  they  departed  with  their  horses,  and 
came  together  as  it  had  been  the  thunder ;  and  the  black 
knight's  spear  brake,  and  Beaumains  thrust  him  through 
both  his  sides,  and  therewith  his  spear  brake,  and  the 
truncheon  left  still  in  his  side.  But  nevertheless  the 
black  knight  drew  his  sword,  and  smote  many  eager 
strokes  and  of  great  might,  and  hurt  Beaumains  full  sore. 
But  at  the  last  the  black  knight  within  an  hour  and  a  half 
he  fell  down  off  his  horse  in  a  swoon,  and  there  he  died. 
And  then  Beaumains  saw  him  so  well  horsed  and  armed, 
then  he  alighted  down,  and  armed  him  in  his  armor,  and 
so  took  his  horse,  and  rode  after  the  damsel.  When  she 
saw  him  come  nigh,  she  said,  "  Away,  kitchen  knave,  out 
of  the  wind,  for  the  smell  of  thy  foul  clothes  grieveth  me. 
Alas,"  she  said,  "  that  ever  such  a  knave  as  thou  art  should 
by  mishap  slay  so  good  a  knight  as  thou  hast  done,  but  all 
this  is  thine  unhappiness.  But  hereby  is  one  shall  pay 
thee  all  thy  payment,  and  therefore  yet  I  counsel  thee, 
flee." 

"  It  may  happen  me,"  said  Beaumains,  "  to  be  beaten  or 
slain,  but  I  warn  you,  fair  damsel,  I  will  not  flee  away  for 


Of  Sir   Gareth  of  Orkney.  109 

him,  nor  leave  your  company  for  all  that  ye  can  say ;  fo« 
ever  ye  say  that  they  slay  me  or  beat  me,  but  how  soever 
it  happeneth  I  escape,  and  they  lie  on  the  ground,  and 
therefore  it  were  as  good  for  you  to  hold  you  still,  than 
thus  to  rebuke  me  all  day,  for  away  will  I  not  till  I  feel 
*he  uttermost  of  this  journey,  or  else  I  will  be  slain  or 
truly  beaten ;  therefore  ride  on  your  way,  for  follow  you 
I  will,  whatsoever  happen." 


CHAPTER  VII. 

How  THE  BROTHER  OF  THE  KNIGHT  THAT  WAS  SLAIN  MET  WITH  Sim 
BEAUMAINS,  AND  FOUGHT  WITH  SIR  BEAUMAINS,  WHICH  YIELDED  HIM 
AT  THE  LAST. 

THUS  as  they  rode  together  they  saw  a  knight  come 
driving  by  them  all  in  green,  both  his  horse  and  his 
harness,  and  when  he  came  nigh  the  damsel  he  asked 
of  her,  "  Is  that  my  brother,  the  black  knight,  that  ye  have 
brought  with  you  ? " 

"Nay,  nay,"  said  she,  "this  unhappy  kitchen  knave  hath 
slain  your  brother  through  unhappiness." 

"  Alas  !  "  said  the  green  knight,  "  that  is  great  pity  that 
so  noble  a  knight  as  he  was  should  so  unhappily  be  slain, 
and  namely  of  a  knave's  hand,  as  ye  say  he  is.  Ah, 
traitor ! "  said  the  green  knight,  "  thou  shalt  die  for  slay- 
ing of  my  brother ;  he  was  a  full  noble  knight,  and  his 
name  was  Sir  Periard." 

"I  defy  thee,"  said  Sir  Beaumains,  "for  I  let  thee  to 
wit  I  slew  him  knightly,  and  not  shamefully." 

Therewithal  the  green  knight  rode  unto  an  horn  that 
was  grc;n,  and  it  hung  upon  a  thorn,  and  there  he  blew 


1 10  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

three  deadly  notes,  and  there  came  three  damsels  that 
lightly  armed  him.  And  then  took  he  a  great  horse,  and 
a  green  shield  and  a  green  spear.  And  then  they  ran 
together  with  all  their  mights,  and  brake  their  spears  unto 
their  hands.  And  then  they  drew  their  swords,  and  gave 
many  sad  strokes,  and  either  of  them  wounded  other  full 
ill.  And  at  the  last  at  an  overthwart  Beaumains'  horse 
struck  the  green  knight's  horse  upon  the  side  [that]  he  fell 
to  the  earth.  And  then  the  green  knight  avoided  his  horse 
lightly,  and  dressed  him  upon  foot.  That  saw  Btaumains, 
and  therewithal  he  alighted,  and  they  rushed  together  like 
two  mighty  champions  a  long  while,  and  sore  they  bl*d 
both.  With  that  came  the  damsel  and  said,  "  My  lord  U  e 
green  knight,  why  for  shame  stand  ye  so  long  fighth  * 
with  the  kitchen  knave  ?  Alas,  it  is  shame  that  ever  \  * 
were  made  knight,  to  see  such  a  lad  match  such  a  kn^hi 
as  the  weed  overgrew  the  corn." 

Therewith  the  green  knight  was  ashamed,  and  thcie 
withal  he  gave  a  great  stroke  of  might,  and  clave  hi:/ 
shield  through.  When  Beaumains  saw  his  shield  clover- 
asunder  he  was  a  little  ashamed  of  that  stroke,  and  of  hei 
language ;  and  then  he  gave  him  such  a  buffet  upon  the 
helm  that  he  fell  on  his  knees ;  and  so  suddenly  Beau 
mains  pulled  him  upon  the  ground  grovelling.  And  then 
the  green  knight  cried  him  mercy,  and  yielded  him  unto 
Sir  Beaumains,  and  prayed  him  to  slay  him  not. 

"  All  is  in  vain,"  said  Beaumains,  "  for  thou  shalt  die, 
but  if  this  damsel  that  came  with  me  pray  me  to  save  thy 
life." 

And  therewithal  he  unlaced  his  heim,  like  as  he  would 
slay  him. 

"  Fie  upon  thee,  false  kitchen  page,  I  will  never  pray 
thee  to  save  his  life,  for  I  never  will  be  so  much  in  thy 
danger." 


Of  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney.  in 

"Then  shall  he  die,"  said  Beaumains. 

"Not  so  hardy,  thou  foul  knave,"  said  the  damsel,  "that 
thou  slay  him." 

"  Alas,"  said  the  green  knight,  "  suffer  me  not  to  die, 
for  a  fair  word  may  save  my  life.  O  fair  knight,"  said  the 
green  knight,  "  save  my  life,  and  I  will  forgive  the  death 
of  my  brother,  and  forever  to  become  thy  man,  and  thirty 
knights  that  hold  of  me  forever  shall  do  you  service." 

Said  the  damsel,  "That  such  a  kitchen  knave  should 
have  thee  and  thirty  knights'  service  !  " 

"  Sir  knight,"  said  Sir  Beaumains,  "all  this  availeth  not, 
but  if  my  damsel  speak  with  me  for  thy  life." 

And  therewithal  he  made  resemblance  to  slay  him. 

"  Let  be,"  said  the  damsel,  "  thou  knave,  slay  him  not, 
for  if  thou  do,  thou  shalt  repent  it." 

"  Damsel,"  said  Sir  Beaumains,  "  your  charge  is  to  me 
a  pleasure,  and  at  your  commandment  his  life  shall  be 
saved,  and  else  not." 

Then  he  said,  "  Sir  knight  with  the  green  arms,  I  release 
thee  quit  [acquitted]  at  this  damsel's  request,  for  I  will  not 
make  her  wroth,  I  will  fulfil  all  that  she  chargeth  me." 

And  then  the  green  knight  kneeled  down  and  did  him 
homage  with  his  sword. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
How  THE  DAMSEL  ALWAYS  REBUKED  SIR  BEAUMAINS,  AND  WOULD  NOT 

SUFFER   HIM  TO  SIT  AT   HER  TABLE,  BUT  CALLED   HIM  KlTCHEN   PAGE. 

AND  always  the  damsel  rebuked  Sir  Beaumains.     And 
so  that  night  they  went  unto  rest,  and  all  that  night 
vhe  green    knight  commanded  thirty  knights  privily  to 


ii2  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

watch  Beaumains,  for  to  keep  him  from  all  treason.  And 
so  on  the  morn  they  all  arose,  and  heard  their  mass  and 
brake  their  fast,  and  then  they  took  their  horses  and 
rode  on  their  way,  and  the  green  knight  conveyed  them 
through  the  forest,  and  there  the  green  knight  said,  "  My 
lord  Beaumains,  I  and  these  thirty  knights  shall  be  alway 
at  your  summons,  both  early  and  late,  at  your  calling,  and 
where  that  ever  ye  will  send  us." 

"  It  is  well  said,"  said  Beaumains ;  "  when  that  I  call 
upon  you  ye  must  yield  you  unto  King  Arthur  and  all 
your  knights." 

"  If  that  ye  so  command  us,  we  shall  be  ready  at  all 
times,"  said  the  green  knight. 

"  Fie,  fie  upon  thee,"  said  the  damsel,  "  that  any  good 
knights  should  be  obedient  unto  a  kitchen  knave." 

So  then  departed  the  green  knight  and  the  damsel. 
And  then  she  said  unto  Beaumains,  "  Why  followest  thou 
me,  thou  kitchen  boy,  cast  away  thy  shield  and  thy  spear 
and  flee  away,  yet  I  counsel  thee  betimes,  or  thou  shalt 
say  right  soon,  Alas ! " 


CHAPTER  IX. 

How  SIR  BEAUMAINS  SUFFERED  GREAT  REBUKES  OF  THE  DAMSEL,  AND 

HE  SUFFERED  IT  PATIENTLY. 

DAMSEL,"  said  Sir  Beaumains,  "  ye  are  uncourteous 
so  to  rebuke  me  as  ye  do,  for  meseemeth  I  have 
done  you  great  service,  and  ever  ye  threaten  me  for  I 
shall  be  beaten  with  knights  that  we  meet,  but  ever  for  all 
your  boast  they  lie  in  the  dust  or  in  the  mire,  and  there- 
fore I  pray  you  rebuke  me  no  more ;  and  when  ye  see  me 


Of  Sir   Gareth  of  Orkney.  113 

beaten  or  yielden  as  recreant,  then  may  ye  bid  me  go  from 
you  shamefully,  but  first  I  let  you  wit  I  will  not  depart 
from  you,  for  I  were  worse  than  a  fool  and  I  would  depart 
from  you  all  the  while  that  I  win  worship." 

"  Well,"  said  she,  "  right  soon  there  shall  meet  a  knight 
shall  pay  thee  all  thy  wages,  for  he  is  the  most  man  of 
worship  of  the  world,  except  King  Arthur." 

"  I  will  well,"  said  Beaumains ;  "  the  more  he  is  of  wor- 
ship the  more  shall  be  my  worship  to  have  ado  with  him." 

Then  anon  they  were  ware  where  was  before  them  a 
city  rich  and  fair.  And  betwixt  them  and  the  city  a  mile 
and  a  half  there  was  a  fair  meadow  that  seemed  new 
mown,  and  therein  were  many  pavilions  fair  to  behold. 

"Lo,"  said  the  damsel,  "yonder  is  a  lord  that  owneth 
yonder  city,  and  his  custom  is  when  the  weather  is  fair  to 
lie  in  this  meadow  to  joust  and  tourney ;  and  ever  there 
be  about  him  five  hundred  knights  and  gentlemen  of  arms, 
and  there  be  all  manner  of  games  that  any  gentleman  can 
devise." 

"That  goodly  lord,"  said  Beaumains,  "would  I  fain  see." 

"Thou  shalt  see  him  time  enough,"  said  the  damsel. 

And  so  as  she  rode  near  she  espied  the  pavilion  where 
he  was. 

"  Lo,"  said  she,  "  seest  thou  yonder  pavilion,  that  is  all 
of  the  color  of  Inde,  and  all  manner  of  thing  that  there  is 
about,  men  and  women,  and  horses  trapped,  shields  and 
spears,  all  of  the  color  of  Inde,  and  his  name  is  Sir  Per- 
sant  of  Inde,  the  most  lordliest  knight  that  ever  thou 
lookedest  on." 

"  It  may  well  be,"  said  Beaumains,  "  but  be  he  never  so 
stout  a  knight,  in  this  field  I  shall  abide  till  that  I  see  him 
under  his  shield." 

"Ah,  fool,"  said  she,  "thou  were  better  flee  betimes." 


H4  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"  Why,"  said  Beaumains,  "  and  he  be  such  a  knight  as 
ye  make  him,  he  will  not  set  upon  me  with  all  his  men,  or 
with  his  five  hundred  knights.  For  and  there  come  no 
more  but  one  at  once,  I  shall  him  not  fail  whilst  my  life 
lasteth."' 

"Fie,  fie,"  said  the  damsel,  "that  ever  such  a  dirty 
knave  should  blow  such  a  boast." 

"  Damsel,"  he  said,  "  ye  are  to  blame  so  to  rebuke  me, 
for  I  had  liever  do  five  battles  than  so  to  be  rebuked ;  let 
him  come,  arijd  then  let  him  do  his  worst." 

"  Sir,"  she  said,  "  I  marvel  what  thou  art,  and  of  what 
kin  thou  art  come  :  boldly  thou  speakest,  and  boldly  thou 
has  done,  that  have  I  seen:  therefore  I  pray  thee  save 
thyself  and  thou  mayest,  for  thy  horse  and  thou  have  had 
great  travail,  and  I  dread  we  dwell  over  long  from  the 
siege,  for  it  is  but  hence  seven  mile,  and  all  perilous  pass- 
ages we  are  past,  save  all  only  this  passage,  and  here  I 
dread  me  sore  lest  ye  shall  catch  some  hurt,  therefore 
I  would  ye  were  hence,  that  ye  were  not  bruised  nor  hurt 
with  this  strong  knight.  But  I  let  you  wit  this  Sir  Per- 
sant  of  Inde  is  nothing  of  might  nor  strength  unto  the 
knight  that  laid  the  siege  about  my  lady." 

"As  for  that,"  said  Sir  Beaumains,  "be  it  as  it  may; 
for  since  I  am  come  so  nigh  this  knight  I  will  prove  his 
might  or  \ere\  I  depart  from  him,  and  else  I  shall  be 
shamed  and  [if]  I  now  withdraw  me  from  him.  And 
therefore,  damsel,  have  ye  no  doubt  by  the  grace  of  God  I 
shall  so  deal  with  this  knight,  that  within  two  hours  after 
noon  I  shall  deliver  him,  and  then  shall  we  come  to  the 
siege  by  daylight." 

"Oh,  mercy,  marvel  have  I,"  said  the  damsel,  "what 
manner  a  man  ye  be,  for  it  may  never  be  otherwise  but  that 
ye  be  come  of  a  noble  blood,  for  so  foul  and  shamefully  did 


Of  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney.  115 

never  woman  rule  a  knight  as  I  have  done  you,  and  ever 
courteously  ye  have  suffered  me,  and  that  came  never  but 
of  a  gentle  blood/' 

"  Damsel,"  said  Beaumains,  "  a  knight  may  little  do  that 
may  not  suffer  a  damsel ;  for  whatsoever  ye  said  unto  me 
I  took  none  heed  to  your  words,  for  the  more  ye  said  the 
more  ye  angered  me,  and  my  wrath  I  wreaked  upon  them 
that  I  had  ado  withal.  And  therefore  all  the  missaying 
that  ye  missayed  me  furthered  me  in  my  battle,  and  caused 
me  to  think  to  show  and  prove  myself  at  the  end  what  I 
was  ;  for  peradventure  though  I  had  meat  in  King  Arthur's 
kitchen,  yet  I  might  have  had  meat  enough  in  other 
places ;  but  all  that  I  did  for  to  prove  my  friends ;  and 
whether  I  be  a  gentleman  born  or  no,  fair  damsel,  I  have 
done  you  gentleman's  service,  and  peradventure  better 
service  yet  will  I  do  you  or  [before]  I  depart  from  you." 

"Alas,"  said  she,  "fair  Beaumains,  forgive  me  all  that  I 
have  missaid  and  misdone  against  you." 

"With  all  my  heart,"  said  Sir  Beaumains,  "I  forgive  it 
you,  for  ye  did  nothing  but  as  ye  ought  to  do,  for  all  your 
evil  words  pleased  me ;  and,  damsel,"  said  Sir  Beaumains, 
"  sith  {since']  it  liketh  you  to  speak  thus  fair  to  me,  wit  ye 
well  it  gladdeth  greatly  mine  heart ;  and  now  meseemeth 
there  is  no  knight  living  but  I  am  able  enough  for  him." 


CHAPTER  X. 

How  Si*  BEAUMAINS  FOUGHT  WITH  SIR  PKRSANT  OF  INDE,  AND  MADI 

HIM  TO  BE  YIELDEN. 

WITH  this  Sir  Persant  of  Inde  had  espied  them,  as 
they  hoved  [hovered]  in  the  field,  and  knightly  he 
sent  to  them  to  know  whether  he  came  in  war  or  in  peace. 


n6  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"  Say  unto  thy  lord,"  said  Sir  Beaumains,  "  I  take  no 
force,1  but  whether  as  him  list2  himself." 

So  the  messenger  went  again  unto  Sir  Persant,  and 
told  him  all  his  answer. 

"Well,"  said  he,  "then  will  I  have  ado  with  him  to  the 
uttermost ; "  and  so  he  purveyed  him  {prepared  himself  ], 
and  rode  against  him.  And  when  Sir  Beaumains  saw  him, 
he  made  him  ready,  and  there  they  met  with  all  the  might 
that  their  horses  might  run,  and  brake  their  spears  either 
in  three  pieces,  and  their  horses  rashed  so  together  that 
both  their  horses  fell  dead  to  the  earth ;  and  lightly  they 
avoided  their  horses,  and  put  their  shields  before  them, 
and  drew  their  swords,  and  gave  each  other  many  great 
strokes,  that  sometime  they  so  hurled  together  that  they 
fell  both  grovelling  on  the  ground.  Thus  they  fought  two 
hours  and  more,  that  their  shields  and  their  hauberks 
were  all  f orhewen  [hewn  to  pieces]  and  in  many  places  they 
were  sore  wounded.  So  at  the  last  Sir  Beaumains  smote 
him  through  the  cost  [rib part]  of  the  body,  and  then  he 
retrayed  him  [drew  back\  here  and  there,  and  knightly 
maintained  his  battle  long  time.  And  at  the  last  Sir 
Beaumains  smote  Sir  Persant  on  the  helm  that  he  fell 
grovelling  to  the  earth,  and  then  he  leaped  overthwart 
[across]  upon  him,  and  unlaced  his  helm  for  to  have  slain 
him.  Then  Sir  Persant  yielded  him,  and  asked  him 
mercy.  With  that  came  the  damsel  and  prayed  him  to 
save  his  life. 

"I  will  well,"  said  Sir  Beaumains,  "for  it  were  pity  that 
this  noble  knight  should  die." 

"Gramercy,"  said  Sir  Persant,  "gentle  knight  and 
damsel,  for  certainly  now  I  know  well  it  was  you  that  slew 
the  black  knight  my  brother  at  the  blackthorn ;  he  was  a 

1  "  I  take  no  force,"  1  care  not.    *  "  Him  list."  he  wishes,  \epleasei. 


Of  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney.  117 

full  noble  knight,  his  name  was  Sir  Periard.  Also  I  am 
sure  that  ye  are  he  that  won  mine  other  brother  the  green 
knight :  his  name  was  Sir  Pertolope.  Also  ye  won  the 
red  knight,  my  brother,  Sir  Perimones.  And  now,  sir, 
sith  ye  have  won  these  knights,  this  shall  I  do  for  to  please 
you :  ye  shall  have  homage  and  fealty  of  me,  and  an  hun- 
dred knights  to  be  always  at  your  command,  to  go  ani 
ride  where  ye  will  command  us." 

And  so  they  went  unto  Sir  Persant's  pavilion,  and  there 
he  drank  wine  and  eat  spices.  And  afterward  Sir  Per 
sant  made  him  to  rest  upon  a  bed  till  it  was  supper  time, 
and  after  supper  to  bed  again.  And  so  we  leave  him  there 
till  On  the  morrow. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

How  THE  DAMSEL  AND  BEAUMAINS  CAME  TO  THE  SIEGE,  AND  CAMS  TO 
A  SYCAMORE  TREE,  AND  THERE  BEAUMAINS  BLEW  A  HORN,  AND  THEN 
THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  RED  LAWNS  CAME  TO  FIGHT  WITH  HIM. 

NOW  leave  we  the  knight  and  the  dwarf,  and  speak  we 
of  Beaumains,  that  all  night  lay  in  the  hermitage, 
and  upon  the  morn  he  and  the  damsel  Linet  heard  their 
uass,  and  brake  their  fast.  And  then  they  took  their 
horses  and  rode  throughout  a  fair  forest,  and  then  they 
came  to  a  plain,  and  saw  where  were  many  pavilions  and 
tents,  and  a  fair  castle,  and  there  was  much  smoke  and 
great  noise.  And  when  they  came  near  the  siege  Sir 
Beaumains  espied  upon  great  trees,  as  he  rode,  how  there 
hung  full  goodly  armed  knights  by  the  neck,  and  their 
shields  about  their  necks  with  their  swords,  and  gilt  spurs 
upon  their  heels,  and  so  there  hung  shamefully  nigh  forty 


n8  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

knights  with  rich  arms.  Then  Sir  Beaumains  abated  his 
countenance,  and  said,  "  What  thing  meaneth  this  ? " 

"  Fair  sir,"  saith  the  damsel,  "  abate  not  your  cheer  for 
all  this  sight,  for  ye  must  encourage  yourself,  or  else  ye 
be  all  shent  \ruined\  for  all  these  knights  came  hither 
unto  this  siege  to  rescue  my  sister  dame  Lyoness,  and 
when  the  red  knight  of  the  red  lawns  had  overcome  them, 
he  put  them  to  this  shameful  death,  without  mercy  and 
pity,  and  in  the  same  wise  he  will  serve  you,  but  if  ye  quit 
[acquit]  you  the  better." 

"  Now  Jesu  defend  me,"  said  Sir  Beaumains,  "  from  such 
a  villanous  death  and  shenship  \disgrace~\  of  arms !  for 
rather  than  thus  I  should  fare  withal,  I  would  rather  be 
slain  manfully  in  plain  battle." 

"So  were  ye  better,"  said  the  damsel,  "trust  not  in 
him,  for  in  him  is  no  courtesy,  but  all  goeth  to  the  death 
or  shameful  murder,  and  that  is  great  pity,  for  he  is  a  full 
likely  man  and  well  made  of  body,  and  a  full  noble  knight 
of  prowess,  and  a  lord  of  great  lands  and  possessions." 

"  Truly,"  said  Sir  Beaumains,  "  he  may  well  be  a  good 
knight,  but  he  useth  shameful  customs,  and  it  is  great 
marvel  that  he  endureth  so  long,  that  none  of  the  noble 
knights  of  my  lord  King  Arthur's  court  have  not  dealt 
with  him." 

And  then  they  rode  unto  the  ditches,  and  saw  them 
double  ditched  with  full  strong  walls,  and  there  were 
lodged  many  great  estates  and  lords  nigh  the  walls,  and 
there  was  great  noise  of  minstrels,  and  the  sea  beat  upon 
the  one  side  of  the  walls,  where  as  were  many  ships  and 
mariners'  noise  with  hale  and  how.1  And  also  there  was 
fast  by  a  sycamore  tree,  and  thereon  hung  an  horn,  the 
greatest  that  ever  they  saw,  of  an  elephant's  bone. 

1  "  Hade  and  how,*'  haul  and  ho :  the  sailors'  cries  in  hoisting  away,  Ac. 


Of  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney.  119 

"And  this  knight  of  the  red  lawns  hath  hanged  it  up 
there,  that  if  there  come  any  errant  knight,  he  must  blow 
that  horn,  and  then  will  he  make  him  ready,  and  come  to 
him  to  do  battle.  But  sir,  I  pray  you,"  said  the  damsel 
Linet,  "  blow  ye  not  the  horn  till  it  be  high  noon,  for  now 
it  is  about  prime,  and  now  increaseth  his  might,  that,  as 
men  say,  he  hath  seven  men's  strength." 

"  Ah,  fie  for  shame,  fair  damsel,  say  ye  never  so  more 
to  me,  for,  and  he  were  as  good  a  knight  as  ever  was,  I 
shall  never  fail  him  in  his  most  might,  for  either  I  will 
win  worship  worshipfully,  or  die  knightly  in  the  field." 

And  therewith  he  spurred  his  horse  straight  to  the 
sycamore  tree  and  blew  the  horn  so  eagerly  that  all  the 
siege  and  the  castle  rang  thereof.  And  then  there  leaped 
out  knights  out  of  their  tents  and  pavilions,  and  they 
within  the  castle  looked  over  the  walls  and  out  at  win- 
dows. Then  the  red  knight  of  the  red  lawns  armed  him 
hastily,  and  two  barons  set  on  his  spurs  upon  his  heels, 
and  all  was  blood-red,  his  armor,  spear,  and  shield.  And 
an  earl  buckled  his  helm  upon  his  head,  and  then  they 
brought  him  a  red  spear  and  a  red  steed,  and  so  he  rode 
into  a  little  vale  under  the  castle,  that  all  that  were  in  the 
castle  and  a*:  the  siege  might  behold  the  battle. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

How  THE  Two  KNIGHTS  MET  TOGETHER,  AND  OF  THEIR  TALKING,  AND 

HOW  THEY  BEGAN  THEIR  BATTLE. 

SIR,"  said  the  damsel  Linet  unto  Sir  Beaumains,  "look 
ye  be  glad  and  light,  for  yonder  is  your  deadly  enemy, 
and  at  yonder  window  is  my  lady  my  sister,  dame  Lyoness." 


120  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"  Where  ? "  said  Beaumains. 

"Yonder,"  said  the  damsel,  and  pointed  with  her  ringer 

"That  is  truth,"  said  Beaumains.  "She  seemeth  afar 
the  fairest  lady  that  ever  T  looked  upon,  and  truly,"  he 
said,  "  I  ask  no  better  quarrel  than  now  for  to  do  battle, 
for  truly  she  shall  be  my  lady,  and  for  her  I  will  fight." 

And  ever  he  looked  up  to  the  window  with  glad  coun- 
tenance. And  the  lady  Lyoness  made  courtesy  to  him 
down  to  the  earth,  with  holding  up  both  her  hands. 
With  that  the  red  knight  of  the  red  lawns  called  to 
Sir  Beaumains,  "Leave,  sir  knight,  thy  looking,  and 
behold  me,  I  counsel  thee,  for  I  warn  thee  well  she  is 
my  lady,  and  for  her  I  have  done  many  strong  battles." 

"  If  thou  have  so  done,"  said  Beaumains,  "  meseemeth 
it  was  but  waste  labor,  for  she  loveth  none  of  thy  fellow- 
ship, and  thou  to  love  that  loveth  not  thee,  is  a  great  folly. 
For  if  I  understood  that  she  were  not  glad  of  my  coming, 
I  would  be  advised  or  I  did  battle  for  her,  but  I  understand 
by  the  besieging  of  this  castle  she  may  forbear  thy  com- 
pany. And  therefore  wit  thou  well,  thou  red  knight  of 
the  red  lawns,  I  love  her  and  will  rescue  her,  or  else  die 
in  the  quarrel." 

"  Sayst  thou  that  ? "  said  the  red  knight ;  "  me  seemeth 
thou  ought  of  reason  to  beware  by  yonder  knights  that 
thou  sawest  hang  upon  yonder  great  elms." 

"  Fie,  fie,  for  shame,"  said  Sir  Beaumains,  "  that  ever 
thou  shouldest  say  or  do  so  evil  and  such  shamefulness, 
for  in  that  thou  shamest  thyself  and  the  order  of  knight- 
hood, and  thou  mayst  be  sure  there  will  no  lady  love  thee 
that  knoweth  thy  detestable  customs.  And  now  thou 
weenest  \thinkesf\  that  the  sight  of  these  hanged  knights 
should  fear  \scare\  me  and  make  me  aghast,  nay  truly  not 
so,  that  shameful  sight  causeth  me  to  have  courage  and 


Of  Sir  GaretJi  of  Orkney.  121 

hardiness  against  thee,  more  than  I  would  have  had  against 
thee  and  if  thou  be  a  well  ruled  knight." 

"Make  thee  ready,"  said  the  red  knight  of  the  red 
lawns,  "and  talk  no  longer  with  me." 

Then  Sir  Beaumains  bade  the  damsel  go  from  him,  and 
then  they  put  their  spears  in  their  rests,  and  came  together 
with  all  the  might  they  had,  and  either  smote  other  in 
the  midst  of  their  shields,  that  the  paytrels  [breast-plates], 
surcingles,  and  cruppers  burst,  and  fell  both  to  the  ground 
with  the  reins  of  their  bridles  in  their  hands,  and  so  they 
lay  a  great  while  sore  astonied,  and  all  they  that  were  in  the 
castle  and  at  the  siege  wend  \thoughf\  their  necks  had  been 
broken,  and  then  many  a  stranger  and  other  said  that  the 
strange  knight  was  a  big  man  and  a  noble  j ouster,  "for 
or  [ere]  now  we  saw  never  no  knight  match  the  red  knight 
of  the  red  lawns ; "  thus  they  said  both  within  the  castle 
and  without.  Then  they  lightly  avoided  their  horses  and 
put  their  shields  afore  them,  and  drew  their  swords  and 
ran  together  like  two  fierce  lions,  and  either  gave  other 
such  buffets  upon  their  rrelms  that  they  reeled  both  back- 
ward two  strides  ;  and  then  they  recovered  both,  and 
hewed  great  pieces  from  their  harness  and  their  shields 
that  a  great  part  fell  in  the  fields. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

How  AFTER  LONG  FIGHTING  BEAUMAINS  OVERCAME  THE  KNIGHT,  AND 

WOULD  HAYE  SLAIN    HIM,   BUT    AT    THE    REQUEST    OF    THE    LORDS    HB 
SAVED   HIS   LIFE,   AND   MADE  HIM   TO  YIELD  HIM  TO  THE  LADY. 

AND  then  thus  they  fought  till  it  was  past  noon  and 
never  would  stint  till  at  last  they  lacked  wind  both, 
and   then  they  stood  wagging  and  scattering,  panting, 


122  The  Boy' s  King  Artnur. 

blowing  and  bleeding,  that  all  that  beheld  them  for  the 
most  part  wept  for  pity.  So  when  they  had  rested  them 
a  while  they  went  to  battle  again,  tracing,  racing,  foining 
[feinting},  as  two  boars.  And  at  some  time  they  took 
their  run  as  it  had  been  two  rams,  and  hurtled  together 
that  sometimes  they  fell  grovelling  to  the  earth  ;  and  at 
sometime  they  were  so  amazed  that  either  took  other's 
sword  instead  of  his  own. 

Thus  they  endured  till  even-song  time  \vespers\  that 
there  was  none  that  beheld  them  might  know  whether  was 
like  to  win  the  battle ;  and  their  armor  was  so  far  hewn 
that  men  might  see  their  naked  sides,  and  in  other  places 
they  were  naked,  but  ever  the  naked  places  they  did  de- 
fend. And  the  red  knight  was  a  wily  knight  of  war,  and 
his  wily  fighting  taught  Sir  Beaumains  to  be  wise;  but 
he  abought  [paid for}  it  full  sore  ere  he  did  espy  his  fight 
ing.  And  thus  by  assent  of  them  both,  they  grantei 
either  other  to  rest ;  and  so  they  set  them  down  upon  twc 
mole-hills  there  beside  the  fighting  place,  and  either  ol 
them  unlaced  his  helm,  and  took  the  cold  wind,  for  either 
of  their  pages  was  fast  by  them,  to  come  when  they  callea 
to  unlace  their  harness  and  to  set  it  on  again  at  their 
command.  And  then  when  Sir  Beaumains'  helm  was  off, 
he  looked  up  unto  the  window,  and  there  he  saw  the  fair 
lady  dame  Lyoness.  And  she  made  to  him  such  counte- 
nance that  his  heart  was  light  and  joyful.  And  therewith 
he  started  up  suddenly,  and  bade  the  red  knight  make 
him  ready  to  do  the  battle  to  the  uttermost. 

"  I  will  well,"  said  the  red  knight. 

And  then  they  laced  up  their  helms,  and  their  pages 
avoided  [got  out  of  the  way\  and  they  stepped  together 
and  fought  freshly.  But  the  red  knight  of  the  red  lawns 
awaited  him,  and  at  an  overthwart  [crosswise}  smote  h;m 


Of  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney.  123 

within  the  hand,  that  his  sword  fell  out  ot  his  hand ; 
and  yet  he  gave  him  another  buffet  on  the  helm  that  he 
fell  grovelling  to  the  earth,  and  the  red  knight  fell  over 
him  for  to  hold  him  down. 

Then  cried  the  maiden  Linet  on  high,  "O  Sir  Beau- 
mains,  where  is  thy  courage  become !  Alas,  my  lady  my 
sister  beholdeth  thee,  and  she  sobbeth  and  weepeth,  that 
maketh  mine  heart  heavy." 

When  Sir  Beaumains  heard  her  say  so,  he  started  up 
with  a  great  might  and  gat  him  upon  his  feet,  and  lightly 
he  leaped  to  his  sword  and  griped  it  in  his  hand,  and 
doubled  his  pace  unto  the  red  knight,  and  there  they 
fought  a  new  battle  together.  But  Sir  Beaumains  then 
doubled  his  strokes,  and  smote  so  thick  that  he  smote 
the  sword  out  of  his  hand,  and  then  he  smote  him  upon 
the  helm  that  he  fell  to  the  earth,  and  Sir  Beaumains  fell 
upon  him,  and  unlaced  his  helm  to  have  slain  him  ;  and 
then  he  yielded  him  and  asked  mercy,  and  said  with  a 
loud  voice,  "O  noble  knight,  I  yield  me  to  thy  mercy." 

Then  Sir  Beaumains  bethought  him  upon  the  knights 
that  he  had  made  to  be  hanged  shamefully,  and  then  he 
said,  "  I  may  not  with  my  worship  save  thy  life,  for  the 
shameful  deaths  thou  hast  caused  many  full  good  knights 
to  die." 

"  Sir,"  said  the  red  knight  of  the  red  lawns,  "  hold  your 
hand,  and  ye  shall  know  the  causes  why  I  put  them  to  so 
shameful  a  death." 

"  Say  on,"  said  Sir  Beaumains. 

"  Sir,  I  loved  once  a  lady,  a  fair  damsel,  and  she  had 
her  brother  slain,  and  she  said  it  was  Sir  Launcelot  du 
Lake,  or  else  Sir  Gawaine,  and  she  prayed  me  as  that  I 
loved  her  heartily  that  I  would  make  her  a  promise  by 
the  faith  of  my  knighthood  for  to  labor  daily  in  arms 


124  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

until  I  met  with  one  of  them,  and  all  that  I  might  over- 
come I  should  put  them  unto  a  villanous  death ;  and  this 
is  the  cause  that  I  have  put  all  these  knights  to  death, 
and  so  I  ensured  her  to  do  all  the  villany  unto  King 
Arthur's  knights,  and  that  I  should  take  vengeance  upon 
all  these  knights.  And,  sir,  now  I  will  thee  tell  that 
every  day  my  strength  increaseth  till  noon,  and  all  this 
time  have  I  seven  men's  strength." 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

How  THE  KNIGHT  YIELDED  HIM,  AND  HOW  BEAUMAINS  MADE  HIM  TO 
GO  UNTO  KING  ARTHUR'S  COURT,  AND  TO  CRY  SIR  LAUNCELOT  MERCY. 

THEN  came  there  many  earls,  and  barons,  and  noble 
knights,  and  prayed  that  knight  to  save  his  life,  and 
take  him  to  your  prisoner:  and  all  they  fell  upon  their 
knees  and  prayed  him  of  mercy,  and  that  he  would  save 
his  life,  and,  "  Sir,"  they  all  said,  "  it  were  fairer  of  him  to 
take  homage  and  fealty,  and  let  him  hold  his  lands  of  you, 
than  for  to  slay  him :  by  his  death  ye  shall  have  none 
advantage,  and  his  misdeeds  that  be  done  may  not  be 
undone ;  and  therefore  he  shall  make  amends  to  all 
parties,  and  we  all  will  become  your  men,  and  do  you 
homage  and  fealty." 

"  Fair  lords,"  said  Beaumains,  "  wit  you  well  I  am  full 
loth  to  slay  this  knight,  nevertheless  he  hath  done  passing 
ill  and  shamefully.  But  insomuch  all  that  he  did  was  at  a 
lady's  request,  I  blame  him  the  less,  and  so  for  your  sake 
I  will  release  him,  that  he  shall  have  his  life  upon  this 
covenant,  that  he  go  within  the  castle  and  yield  him 
there  to  the  lady,  and  li  she  will  forgive  and  quit  [acquit] 


Of  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney.  125 

him,  I  will  well ;  with  this  that  he  make  her  amends  of 
all  the  trespass  he  hath  done  against  her  and  her  lands. 
And  also,  when  that  is  done,  that  ye  go  unto  the  court  of 
King  Arthur,  and  there  that  ye  ask  Sir  Launcelot  mercy, 
and  Sir  Gawaine,  for  the  evil  will  ye  have  had  against 
them." 

"Sir,"  said  the  red  knight  of  the  red  lawns,  "all  this 
will  I  do  as  ye  command,  and  certain  assurance  and 
sureties  ye  shall  have." 

And  so  then  when  the  assurance  was  made,  he  made 
his  homage  and  fealty,  and  all  those  earls  and  barons  with 
him.  And  then  the  maiden  Linet  came  to  Sir  Beaumains 
and  unarmed  him,  and  searched  his  wounds,  and  stinted 
his  blood,  and  in  likewise  she  did  to  the  red  knight  of 
the  red  lawns.  And  so  they  sojourned  ten  days  in  their 
tents.  And  the  red  knight  made  his  lords  and  servants 
to  do  all  the  pleasure  that  they  might  unto  Sir  Beaumains. 

And  within  a  while  after,  the  red  knight  of  the  red 
lawns  went  unto  the  castle  and  put  him  in  the  lady 
Lyoness'  grace,  and  so  she  received  him  upon  sufficient 
sureties,  and  all  her  hurts  were  well  restored  of  all  that 
she  could  complain.  And  then  he  departed  and  went 
unto  the  court  of  King  Arthur,  and  there  openly  the  red 
knight  of  the  red  lawns  put  him  in  the  mercy  of  Sir 
Launcelot  and  Sir  Gawaine,  and  there  he  told  openly 
how  he  was  overcome,  and  by  whom,  and  also  he  told  of 
all  the  battles,  from  the  beginning  to  the  ending. 

"Jesus,  mercy,"  said  King  Arthur  and  Sir  Gawaine, 
"  we  marvel  much  of  what  blood  he  is  come,  for  he  is  a 
full  noble  knight." 

"  Have  ye  no  marvel,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  for  ye  shall 
right  well  wit  that  he  is  come  of  a  full  noble  blood,  and, 
as  for  his  might  and  hardiness,  there  be  but  few  now  living 
that  is  so  mighty  as  he  is  and  so  noble  of  prowess." 


126  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"  It  seemeth  by  you,"  said  King  Arthur,  "  that  ye  know 
his  name,  and  from  whence  he  is  come,  and  of  what  blood 
he  is." 

"I  suppose  I  do  so,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "or  else  I 
would  not  have  given  him  the  order  of  knighthood ;  but 
he  gave  me  at  that  time  such  charge  that  I  should  never 
discover  him  until  he  required  me,  or  else  it  be  known 
openly  by  some  other." 

Now  return  we  unto  Sir  Beaumains,  which  desired  of 
the  damsel  Linet  that  he  might  see  her  sister  his  lady. 

"  Sir,"  said  she,  "  I  would  fain  ye  saw  her." 

Then  Sir  Beaumains  armed  him  at  all  points,  and  tock 
his  horse  and  his  spear,  and  rode  straight  to  the  castle. 
And  when  he  came  to  the  gate,  he  found  there  many 
men  armed,  that  pulled  up  the  drawbridge  and  drew  the 
port  close.  Then  marvelled  he  why  they  would  not  suffer 
him  to  enter  in.  And  then  he  looked  up  to  the  window, 
and  there  he  saw  the  fair  lady  dame  Lyoness,  that  said 
on  high :  "  Go  thy  way,  Sir  Beaumains,  for  as  yet  thou 
shalt  not  wholly  have  my  love,  until  the  time  thou  be 
called  one  of  the  number  of  the  worthy  knights  ;  and 
therefore  go  and  labor  in  arms  worshipfully  these  twelve 
months,  and  then  ye  shall  hear  new  tidings ;  and  perde^ 
[per  dieUy  truly\  a  twelvemonth  will  be  soon  gone,  and 
trust  you  me,  fair  knight,  I  shall  be  true  unto  you,  and 
shall  never  betray  you,  but  unto  my  death  I  shall  love 
you  and  none  other." 

And  therewithal  she  turned  her  from  the  window.  And 
Sir  Beaumains  rode  away  from  the  castle  in  making  great 
moan  and  sorrow ;  and  so  he  rode  here  and  there,  and 
wist  not  whither  he  rode,  till  it  was  dark  night ;  and  then 
it  happened  him  to  come  to  a  poor  man's  house,  and  there 
he  was  harbored  all  that  night.  But  Sir  Beaumains  could 


Of  Sir   Garetk  of  Orkney.  127 

have  no  rest,  but  wallowed  and  writhed  for  the  love  of  the 
lady  of  the  castle.  And  so  on  the  morrow  he  took  his 
horse  and  his  armor,  and  rode  till  it  was  noon ;  and  then 
he  came  unto  a  broad  water,  and  thereby  was  a  great  lodge, 
and  there  he  alighted  to  sleep,  and  laid  his  head  upon  his 
shield,  and  betook  his  horse  to  the  dwarf,  and  commanded 
him  to  watch  all  night. 

Now  turn  we  to  the  lady  of  the  castle,  that  thought 
much  upon  Sir  Beaumains ;  and  then  she  called  unto  her 
Sir  Gringamor  her  brother,  and  prayed  him  in  all  manner, 
as  he  loved  her  heartily,  that  he  would  ride  after  Sir  Beau- 
mains,  "  and  ever  have  him  in  a  wait  [look  after  him']  till 
that  ye  may  find  him  sleeping,  for  I  am  sure  in  his  heavi- 
ness he  will  alight  down  in  some  place  and  lie  down  to 
sleep,  and  therefore  have  your  watch  upon  him,  and,  in 
the  priviest  wise  [softest  way\  that  ye  can,  take  his  dwarf 
from  him,  and  go  your  way  with  him  as  fast  as  ever  }e 
may  or  Sir  Beaumains  awake ;  for  my  sister  Linet  r  ath 
showed  me  that  the  dwarf  can  tell  of  what  kindred  he  is 
come,  and  what  his  right  name  is ;  and  in  the  meanwhile 
I  and  my  sister  will  ride  to  your  castle  to  await  when  ye 
shall  bring  with  you  this  dwarf,  and  then  when  ye  have 
brought  him  to  your  castle,  I  will  have  him  in  examination 
myself ;  unto  the  time  I  know  what  his  right  name  is,  and 
of  what  kindred  he  is  come,  shall  I  never  be  merry  at  my 
heart." 

"Sister,"  said  Sir  Gringamor,  "all  this  shall  be  done 
after  your  intent."  And  so  he  rode  all  the  other  day  and 
the  night  till  that  he  found  Sir  Beaumains  lying  by  a 
water,  and  his  head  upon  his  shield,  for  to  sleep.  And 
then  when  he  saw  Sir  Beaumains  fast  on  sleep,  he  came 
stilly  stalking  behind  the  dwarf,  and  plucked  him  fast 
ander  his  arm,  and  so  he  rode  away  with  him  as  fast  as 


128  The  Boys  King  Arthur. 

ever  he  might  unto  his  own  castle.  But  ever  as  he  rode 
with  the  dwarf  toward  his  castle,  he  cried  unto  his  lord 
and  prayed  him  of  help.  And  therewith  awoke  Sir  Beau- 
mains,  and  up  he  leaped  lightly,  and  saw  where  Sir  Grin- 
gamor  rode  his  way  with  the  dwarf,  and  so  Sir  Gringamor 
rode  out  of  his  sight. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

How  SIR  GARKTH,  OTHERWISE  CALLED  BEAUMAINS,  CAME  TO  THE  PIES- 
ENCE  OF  HIS  LADY,  AND  HOW  THEY  TOOK  ACQUAINTANCE,  AND  OP 

THEIR  LOVE. 

THEN  Sir  Beaumains  put  on  his  helm  anon,  and 
buckled  his  shield,  and  took  his  horse  and  rode  after 
him  all  that  ever  he  might  ride,  through  marshes  and  fields 
and  great  dales,  that  many  times  his  horse  and  he  plunged 
over  the  head  in  deep  mires,  for  he  knew  not  the  way,  but 
he  took  the  next  [nearest]  way  in  that  woodness  [madness] 
that  many  times  he  was  like  to  perish.  [And  so  he  came 
following  his  dwarf  to  Sir  Gringamor's  castle.  But  afore- 
time the  lady  Lyoness  had  come  and  had  the  dwarf  in 
examination ;  and  the  dwarf  had  told  the  lady  how  that 
Sir  Beaumains  was  the  son  of  a  king,  and  how  his  mother 
was  sister  to  King  Arthur,  and  how  his  right  name  was 
Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney.] 

And  as  they  sat  thus  talking,  there  came  Sir  Beaumaina 
at  the  gate  with  an  angry  countenance,  and  his  sword 
drawn  in  his  hand,  and  cried  aloud  that  all  the  castle 
might  hear  it,  saying,  "Thou  traitor,  Sir  Gringamor, 
deliver  me  my  dwarf  again,  or  by  the  faith  that  I  owe  to 
the  order  of  knighthood,  I  shall  do  thee  all  the  harm  tha* 
I  can." 


Of  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney.  129 

Then  Sir  Gringamor  looked  out  at  a  window,  and  said, 
"Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney,  leave  thy  boasting  words,  for 
thou  gettest  not  thy  dwarf  again." 

"Thou  coward  knight,"  said  Sir  Gareth,  "bring  him 
with  thee,  and  come  and  do  battle  with  me,  and  win  him, 
and  take  him." 

"  So  will  I  do,"  said  Sir  Gringamor,  "  and  me  list  [if  it 
please  me],  but  for  all  thy  great  words  thou  gettest  him 
not." 

"Ah,  fair  brother,"  said  dame  Lyoness,  "I  would  he 
had  his  dwarf  again,  for  I  would  not  he  were  wroth,  for 
now  he  hath  told  me  all  my  desire  I  will  no  longer  keep 
the  dwarf.  And  also,  brother,  he  hath  done  much  for  me, 
and  delivered  me  from  the  red  knight  of  the  red  lawns, 
and  therefore,  brother,  I  owe  him  my  service  afore  all 
knights  living  ;  and  wit  ye  well  I  love  him  above  all  other 
knights,  and  full  fain  would  I  speak  with  him,  but  in  no 
wise  I  would  he  wist  what  I  were,  but  that  I  were  another 
strange  lady." 

"  Well,"  said  Sir  Gringamor,  "  sith  [since]  that  I  know 
your  will,  I  will  now  obey  unto  him." 

And  therewithal  he  went  down  unto  Sir  Gareth,  and 
said,  "  Sir,  I  cry  you  mercy,  and  all  that  I  have  misdone 
against  your  person  I  will  amend  it  at  your  own  will,  and 
therefore  I  pray  you  that  you  will  alight,  and  take  such 
cheer  as  I  can  make  you  here  in  this  castle." 

"  Shall  I  then  have  my  dwarf  again  ? "  said  Sir  Gareth. 

"  Yea,  sir,  and  all  the  pleasure  that  I  can  make  you,  for 
as  soon  as  your  dwarf  told  me  what  ye  were  and  of  what 
blood  that  ye  are  come,  and  what  noble  deeds  ye  have 
done  in  these  marches  \borders\  then  I  repent  me  of 
my  deeds." 

And  then  Sir  Gareth  alighted  down  from  his  horse, 
and  therewith  came  his  dwari  and  took  his  horse. 


130  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"  O  my  fellow/'  said  Sir  Gareth,  "  I  have  had  many  evil 
adventures  for  thy  sake." 

And  so  Sir  Gringamor  took  him  by  the  hand,  and  led 
him  into  the  hall,  and  there  was  Sir  Gringamor's  wife. 

And  then  there  came  forth  into  the  hall  dame  Lyoness 
arrayed  like  a  princess,  and  there  she  made  him  passing 
good  cheer,  and  he  her  again.  And  they  had  goodly 
language  and  lovely  countenance  together.  And  Sir 
Gareth  many  times  thought  in  himself,  "Would  to  God 
that  the  lady  of  the  Castle  Perilous  were  so  fair  as  she 
;? ! "  There  were  all  manner  of  games  and  plays,  both  of 
dancing  and  leaping ;  and  ever  the  more  Sir  Gareth  beheld 
the  lady,  the  more  he  loved  her,  and  so  he  burned  in  love 
that  he  was  past  himself  in  his  understanding.  And  forth 
toward  night  they  went  to  supper,  and  Sir  Gareth  might 
not  eat,  for  his  love  was  so  hot  that  he  wist  not  where  he 
was.  All  these  looks  Sir  Gringamor  espied,  and  after 
supper  he  called  his  sister  dame  Lyoness  unto  a  chamber, 
and  said  :  "  Fair  sister,  I  have  well  espied  your  countenance 
between  you  and  this  knight,  and  I  will,  sister,  that  ye  wit 
that  he  is  a  full  noble  knight,  and  if  ye  can  make  him  to 
abide  here,  I  will  do  to  him  all  the  pleasure  that  I  can,  for 
and  ye  were  better  than  ye  be,  ye  were  well  bestowed  upon 
him." 

"  Fair  brother,"  said  dame  Lyoness,  "  I  understand  well 
that  the  knight  is  good,  and  come  he  is  of  a  noble  house ; 
notwithstanding  I  will  assay  him  better,  for  he  hath  had 
great  labor  for  my  love,  and  hath  passed  many  a  dangerous 
passage." 

Right  so  Sir  Gringamor  went  unto  Sir  Gareth,  and 
said :  "  Sir,  make  ye  good  cheer  ;  for  wist  [know]  ye  well 
that  she  loveth  you  as  well  as  ye  do  her,  and  better  if 
better  may  be." 


Of  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney.  131 

"And  I  wist  that,"  said  Sir  Gareth,  "there  lived  not  a 
gladder  man  than  I  would  be." 

"Upon  my  worship,"  said  Sir  Gringamor,  "trust  unto 
my  promise ;  and  as  long  as  it  liketh  you  ye  shall  sojourn 
with  me,  and  this  lady  shall  be  with  us  daily  and  nightly 
to  make  you  all  the  cheer  that  she  can." 

"  I  will  well,"  said  Sir  Gareth,  "  for  I  have  promised  to 
be  nigh  this  country  this  twelvemonth.  And  well  I  an? 
sure  King  Arthur  and  other  noble  knights  will  find  me 
where  that  I  am  within  this  twelvemonth.  For  I  shall  be 
sought  and  found,  if  that  I  be  on  live." 

And  then  the  noble  knight  Sir  Gareth  went  unto  the 
dame  Lyoness,  which  he  then  much  loved,  and  kissed  her 
many  times,  and  either  made  great  joy  of  other.  And 
there  she  promised  him  her  love,  certainly  to  love  him 
and  none  other  the  days  of  her  life.  Then  this  lady,  dame 
Lyoness,  by  the  assent  of  her  brother,  told  Sir  Gareth  all 
the  truth  what  she  was,  and  how  she  was  the  same  lady 
that  he  did  battle  for,  and  how  she  was  lady  of  the  Castle 
Perilous.  And  there  she  told  him  how  she  caused  her 
brother  to  take  away  his  dwarf,  "  For  this  cause,  to  know 
the  certainty  what  was  your  name,  and  of  what  kin  ye 


were  come." 


And  then  she  let  fetch  before  him  Linet  the  damsel, 
which  had  ridden  with  him  many  dreary  ways.  Then  was 
Sir  Gareth  more  gladder  than  he  was  tofore.  And  then 
they  troth  plight1  each  other  to  love,  and  never  to  fail 
while  their  life  lasted. 

1  M  Troth,"  truth,  and  "  plight,"  nwev :  "  troth  plight,"  wm>e  iktir  truth  to&tktr 


132  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

How  AT  THE  FEAST  OF  PENTECOST  ALL  THE  KNIGHTS  THAT  SIR  GAK.ETH 

HAD  OVERCOME  CAME  AND  YIELDED  THEM  UNTO  KlNG  ARTHUR. 

NOW  leave  we  off  Sir  Gareth  there  with  Sir  Gringaraor 
and  his  sisters,  and  return  we  unto  King  Arthur,  that 
at  the  next  feast  of  Pentecost  held  his  feast,  and  there 
came  the  green  knight  with  fifty  knights,  and  they  all 
yielded  them  unto  King  Arthur.  And  after  there  came 
the  red  knight  his  brother,  and  yielded  him  to  King 
Arthur,  and  threescore  knights  with  him.  Also  there 
came  the  blue  knight,  that  was  brother  unto  the  other 
two,  with  an  hundred  knights,  and  they  all  yielded  them 
unto  King  Arthur.  The  green  knight's  name  was  Sir 
Pertolope,  and  the  red  knight's  name  was  Sir  Perimones, 
and  the  blue  knight's  name  was  Sir  Persant  of  Inde. 
These  three  brethren  told  King  Arthur  how  they  were 
overcome  by  a  knight  that  a  damsel  had  with  her,  and 
called  him  Sir  Beaumains.  Said  the  king,  "  I  marvel  what 
knight  he  is,  and  of  what  lineage  he  is  come  ;  he  was  with 
me  a  twelvemonth,  and  poorly  and  shamefully  he  was 
fostered,  and  Sir  Kay  in  scorn  named  him  Beaumains." 

Right  as  King  Arthur  stood  so  talking  with  these  three 
brethren,  there  came  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  and  told  the 
king  that  there  was  come  a  goodly  lord  with  five  hundred 
knights.  Then  the  king  went  out  of  Carleon,  for  there 
was  the  feast,  and  there  came  to  him  this  lord,  which 
saluted  the  king  in  a  good  manner. 

"What  is  your  will?"  said  King  Arthur,  "and  what  is 
your  errand  ? " 

"  Sir,"  said  he,  "  I  am  called  the  red  knight  of  the  red 


Of  Sir  Gareth  of   Orkney.  133 

lawns,  but  my  name  is  Sir  Ironside ;  and,  sir,  ye  shall  wit 
that  here  I  am  sent  to  you  of  a  knight  which  is  called  Sir 
Beaumains,  for  he  won  me  in  plain  battle,  hand  for  hand, 
and  so  did  never  no  knight  but  he  this  thirty  winters,  and 
he  charged  and  commanded  me  to  yield  me  unto  your 
grace  and  will." 

"Ye  are  welcome,"  said  the  king,  "for  ye  have  been 
long  a  great  foe  to  me  and  to  my  court,  and  now  I  trust 
to  God  I  shall  so  entreat  you  that  ye  shall  be  my  friend" 

"  Sir,  both  I  and  these  five  hundred  knights  shall  alway 
be  at  your  command,  to  do  you  service  as  much  as  lieth  in 
our  power." 

"  Mercy ! "  said  King  Arthur,  "  I  am  much  beholding 
\pbliged]  unto  that  knight,  that  hath  so  put  his  body  in 
devoir  to  worship  I  me  and  my  court.  Ironside,  that  art 
called  the  red  knight  of  the  red  lawns,  thou  art  called  a 
precious  knight ;  if  thou  wilt  hold  of  me  I  shall  worship ' 
thee  and  make  thee  knight  of  the  Round  Table,  but  then 
thou  must  be  no  more  a  murderer." 

"  Sir,  as  to  that  I  have  promised  unto  Sir  Beaumains 
never  more  to  use  such  customs,  for  all  the  shameful 
customs  that  I  used  I  did  at  the  request  of  a  lady  that  I 
loved ;  and  therefore  I  must  go  unto  Sir  Launcelot,  and 
unto  Sir  Gawaine,  and  ask  them  forgiveness  of  the  evil 
will  I  had  unto  them,  for  all  that  I  put  to  death  was  all 
only  for  the  love  of  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Gawaine." 

"  They  be  here  now,"  said  the  king,  "  afore  thee,  now 
may  ye  say  to  them  what  ye  will." 

And  then  he  kneeled  down  unto  Sir  Launcelot  and 
to  Sir  Gawaine,  and  prayed  them  of  forgiveness  of  his 
enmity  that  ever  he  had  against  them. 

1  "  Worship  "  is  a  contraction  of  worth-ship,  meaning  worthiness.  "  To 
worship  me  and  my  court,"  in  King  Arthur's  pnrase,  means  to  make  me  and 
my  court  of  more  rvo^th-ship^  or  esteem*  among  men. 


134  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

Then  goodly  they  said  all  at  once,  "  God  forgive  you, 
and  we  do,  and  pray  you  that  ye  will  tell  us  where  we  may 
find  Sir  Beaumains." 

"  Fair  lords,"  said  Sir  Ironside,  "  I  cannot  tell  you,  for  it 
is  full  hard  to  find  him,  for  all  such  young  knights  as  he  is 
one,  when  they  be  in  their  adventures  be  never  abiding  in 
one  place."  But  to  say  the  worship  that  the  red  knight 
of  the  red  lawns  and  Sir  Persant  and  his  brothers  said  of 
Beaumains  it  was  marvel  to  hear. 

"Well,  my  fair  lords,"  said  King  Arthur,  "wit  you  well 
I  shall  do  you  honor  for  the  love  of  Sir  Beaumains,  and  as 
soon  as  ever  I  meet  with  him  I  shall  make  you  all  upon 
one  day  knights  of  the  Table  Round.  And  as  to  thee,  Sir 
Persant  of  Inde,  thou  hast  ever  been  called  a  full  noble 
knight,  and  so  have  ever  been  thy  three  brethren  called. 
But  I  marvel,"  said  the  king,  "that  I  hear  not  of  the 
black  knight  your  brother,  he  was  a  full  noble  knight." 

"  Sir,"  said  Pertolope  the  green  knight,  "  Sir  Beaumains 
slew  him  in  a  rencounter  with  his  spear,  his  name  was  Sir 
Pereard." 

"  That  was  great  pity,"  said  the  king,  and  so  said  many 
knights  moe  [more].  For  these  four  brethren  were  full 
well  known  in  the  court  of  King  Arthur  for  noble  knights, 
for  long  time  they  had  holden  war  against  the  knights  of 
the  Table  Round.  Then  said  Pertolope  the  green  knight 
unto  the  king :  "At  a  passage  of  the  water  of  Mortaise 
there  encountered  Sir  Beaumains  with  two  brethren  that 
ever  for  the  most  part  kept  that  passage,  and  they  were 
two  deadly  knights,  and  there  he  slew  the  eldest  brother  in 
the  water,  and  smote  him  upon  the  head  such  a  buffet  that 
he  fell  down  in  the  water  and  there  he  was  drowned,  and 
his  name  was  Gherard  le  Breusse :  and  after  he  slew  the 
other  brother  upon  the  land,  and  his  name  was  Sir  Arnold 
le  Breusse." 


Of  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney.  135 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

HOW  THE  QUEEN  OF  ORKNEY  CAME  TO  THIS  FEAST  OF  PENTECOST,  AND 

INQUIRED  OF  HER   SON   SlR  GARETH. 

SO  then  the  king  and  they  went  to  meat,  and  were 
served  in  the  best  manner.  And  as  they  sat  at  the 
meat,  there  came  in  the  Queen  of  Orkney,  with  a  great 
number  of  ladies  and  knights.  And  then  Sir  Gawaine 
and  Sir  Agravaine  and  Sir  Gaheris  arose  and  went  to  her, 
and  saluted  her  upon  their  knees,  and  asked  her  blessing, 
for  in  the  space  of  fifteen  years  they  had  not  seen  her. 
Then  she  spake  on  high  to  her  brother  King  Arthur, 
"  Where  have  ye  done  my  young  son  Sir  Gareth  ?  He 
was  here  among  you  a  twelvemonth,  and  ye  made  a  kitchen 
knave  of  him,  which  is  a  great  shame  to  you  all.  Alas ! 
where  have  ye  done  my  dear  son  which  was  my  joy  and 
bliss?" 

"Oh,  dear  mother,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "I  knew  him 
not." 

"  Nor  I,"  said  the  king,  "  which  me  now  sore  repenteth, 
out  God  be  thanked  he  is  proved  a  worshipful  knight 
as  any  is  now  living  of  his  years,  and  I  shall  never  be 
glad  till  I  may  find  him." 

"Ah,  brother,"  said  the  Queen  of  Orkney  to  King 
Arthur,  and  to  Sir  Gawaine,  and  to  her  other  two  sons, 
"  ye  did  yourself  a  great  shame  when  ye  among  you  kept 
my  son  Gareth  in  the  kitchen  and  fed  him  like  a  poor 
hog." 

"Fair  sister,"  said  King  Arthur,  "ye  shall  right  well 
wit  that  I  knew  him  not,  no  more  did  Sir  Gawaine  nor  his 
brethren.  But  sith  [since]  it  is  so,"  said  the  king,  "that 


136  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

he  is  thus  gone  from  us  all,  we  must  seek  a  remedy  to  find 
him.  Also,  sister,  me  seemeth  ye  might  have  done  me  to 
wit '  of  his  coming,  and  then  if  I  had  not  done  well  to  him, 
ye  might  have  blamed  me.  For  when  he  came  to  this 
court,  he  came  leaning  upon  two  men's  shoulders,  as 
though  he  might  not  have  gone ;  and  then  he  asked  me 
three  gifts,  and  one  he  asked  that  same  day,  that  was, 
that  I  would  give  him  meat  enough  for  twelve  months. 
And  the  other  two  gifts  he  asked  that  same  day  twelve 
months  after,  and  that  was  that  he  might  have  the  adven- 
ture of  the  damsel  Linet ;  and  the  third  was,  that  Sir 
Launcelot  should  make  him  knight  when  he  desired  him ; 
and  so  I  granted  him  all  his  desire.  And  many  in  this 
court  marvelled  that  he  desired  his  sustenance  for  twelve 
months,  and  therefore  we  deemed  many  of  us  that  he  was 
not  come  of  a  noble  house." 

"  Sir,"  said  the  Queen  of  Orkney  to  her  brother  King 
Arthur,  "  wit  you  well  that  I  sent  him  unto  you  right  well 
armed  and  horsed,  and  worshipfully  beseen  of  his  body, 
and  gold  and  silver  plenty  to  spend." 

"  It  may  be,"  said  the  king,  "  but  thereof  saw  we  none, 
save  that  same  day  as  he  departed  from  us,  knights  told 
me  that  there  came  a  dwarf  hither  suddenly,  and  brought 
him  armor  and  a  good  horse,  full  well  and  richly  beseen, 
and  thereat  we  had  all  marvel  from  whence  that  riches 
came,  that  we  deemed  all  that  he  was  come  of  men  of 
worship." 

"  Brother,"  said  the  queen,  "  all  that  ye  say  I  believe, 
for  ever  since  he  was  grown  he  was  marvellously  witted : 
and  ever  he  was  faithful  and  true  of  his  promise.  But  I 
marvel,"  said  she,  "  that  Sir  Kay  did  mock  him  and  scorn 
him,  and  gave  him  that  name  Beaumains;  yet  Sir  Kay 

1  "  Done  me  to  wit,"  let  me  knvw. 


Of  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney.  137 

named  him  more  righteously  than  he  wend ;  for  I  dare 
say,  and  he  be  on  live,  he  is  as  fair  an  handed  man  and 
well  disposed  as  any  is  living." 

"  Sister,"  said  King  Arthur,  "  let  this  language  be  still, 
and  by  the  grace  of  God  he  shall  be  found  and  he  be  within 
these  seven  realms ;  and  let  all  this  pass,  and  be  merry, 
for  he  is  proved  to  be  a  man  of  worship,  and  that  is  to  me 
great  joy." 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

How  KING  ARTHUR  SENT  FOR  THE  LADY  LYONESS,  AND  HOW  SIR 
GARETH  ACKNOWLEDGED  THAT  THEY  LOVED  EACH  OTHER  TO  KING 
ARTHUR,  AND  OF  THE  DAY  OF  THEIR  WEDDING. 

'THHEN  said  Sir  Gawaine  and  his  brethren  unto  King 
-*•  Arthur :  "  Sir,  and  ye  will  give  us  leave,  we  will  go 
seek  our  brother." 

"  Nay,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  that  shall  not  need,"  and 
so  said  Sir  Bawdewine  of  Britain,  "  for  as  by  our  advice 
the  king  shall  send  unto  dame  Lyoness  a  messenger,  and 
pray  her  that  she  will  come  to  the  king's  court  in  all 
the  haste  that  she  may,  and  I  doubt  not  but  that  she  will 
come,  and  then  she  may  give  you  the  best  counsel  where 
as  ye  shall  find  him." 

"  This  is  well  said  of  you,"  quoth  King  Arthur. 

So  then  goodly  letters  were  made,  and  in  all  haste  a 
messenger  was  sent  forth,  that  rode  both  night  and  day 
till  he  came  to  the  Castle  Perilous.  And  then  the  lady 
dame  Lyoness  was  sent  for  there  as  she  was  with  Sir 
Gringamor  her  brother  and  Sir  Gareth.  And  when  she 
understood  this  message,  she  bade  the  messenger  to  ride 
on  his  way  unto  King  Arthur,  and  she  would  come  after 


138  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

in  all  the  haste  possible.  Then  when  she  came  to  Sit 
Gringamor  and  Sir  Gareth,  she  told  them  all  how  King 
Arthur  had  sent  for  her. 

[And  then  was  let  cry  a  tournament  at  the  Castle 
Perilous  at  the  feast  of  Assumption  Day  next  coming. 
And  on  that  day  came  knights  from  England,  Wales  and 
Scotland,  Ireland  and  Cornwall,  and  from  the  out  isles, 
and  from  Britain  and  many  other  countries,  and  tourneyed 
with  great  honor  and  pleasure.  And  when  they  were  all 
healed  of  their  wounds,  and  King  Arthur  was  returned  to 
his  court,  then  dame  Lyoness  made  herself  ready  as  lightly 
as  she  might,  and]  came  on  the  morrow  with  her  brother 
Sir  Gringamor,  and  with  her  forty  knights.  And  when 
she  was  come,  she  had  all  the  cheer  that  might  be  done, 
both  of  King  Arthur  and  of  many  other  kings  and 
queens. 

Among  all  these  ladies  was  she  named  the  fairest  and 
peerless.  Then  when  Sir  Gareth  saw  her,  there  were 
many  goodly  looks  and  goodly  words,  that  all  men  of 
worship  had  joy  to  behold  them.  Then  came  King 
Arthur  and  many  other  kings,  and  Queen  Guenever  and 
the  Queen  of  Orkney ;  and  there  the  king  asked  his 
nephew  Sir  Gareth  whether  he  would  have  the  lady  to 
his  wife. 

"  My  lord,  wit  you  well  that  I  love  her  above  all  ladies 
living." 

"Now,  fair  lady,"  said  King  Arthur  unto  her,  "what 
say  ye  ? " 

"  Most  noble  king,"  said  dame  Lyoness,  "  wit  you  well 
that  my  lord  Sir  Gareth  is  to  me  more  liever  [comparative 
of  litf]  to  have  and  weld  [possess]  as  my  husband,  than 
any  king  or  prince  christened,  and  if  I  may  not  have  him, 
I  promise  you  I  will  never  have  none.  For,  my  lord  King 


Of  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney.  139 

Arthur,"  said  dame  Lyoness,  "  wit  ye  well  he  is  my  first 
love,  and  he  shall  be  the  last,  and  if  ye  will  suffer  him  to 
have  his  will  and  free  choice,  I  dare  say  he  will  have  me." 

"That  is  truth,"  said  Sir  Gareth,  "and  I  have  not  you 
and  weld  you  as  my  wife,  there  shall  never  lady  nor  gentle- 
woman rejoice  me." 

"What,  nephew,"  said  the  king,  "is  the  wind  in  that 
door  ?  for  wit  ye  well  I  would  not  for  the  stint  [loss]  of 
my  crown  to  be  causer  to  withdraw  your  hearts,  and  I  wit 
ye  well  ye  cannot  love  so  well  but  I  shall  rather  increase 
it  than  distress.  Also  ye  shall  have  my  love  and  my 
lordship  in  the  uttermost  wise  that  may  lie  in  my  power." 

And  the  same  wise  said  Sir  Gareth's  mother.  Then 
was  there  made  a  provision  for  the  day  of  marriage,  and 
by  the  king's  advice  it  was  provided  that  it  should  be  at 
Michaelmas  following,  at  King-Kenadon  by  the  seaside,  for 
there  is  a  plentiful  country.  And  so  it  was  cried  in  all 
the  places  through  the  realm.  And  then  Sir  Gareth  sent 
nis  summons  unto  all  these  knights  and  ladies  that  he 
nad  won  in  battle  afore,  that  they  should  be  at  his  day  of 
marriage  at  King-Kenadon  by  the  sands.  And  then  dame 
Lyoness  and  the  damsel  Linet,  with  Sir  Gringamor,  rode 
to  their  castle,  and  a  goodly  and  a  rich  ring  she  gave  to 
Sir  Gareth,  and  he  gave  her  another.  And  King  Arthur 
gave  her  a  rich  [bracelet]  of  gold,  and  so  she  departed. 
And  King  Arthur  and  his  fellowship  rode  toward  King- 
Kenadon,  and  Sir  Gareth  brought  his  lady  on  the  way,  and 
so  came  to  the  king  again  and  rode  with  him.  Oh,  the 
great  cheer  that  Sir  Launcelot  made  of  Sir  Gareth  and  he 
of  him ;  for  there  was  never  no  knight  that  Sir  Gareth  loved 
so  well  as  he  did  Sir  Launcelot,  and  ever  for  the  most 
part  he  would  be  in  Sir  Launcelot's  company ;  for  after 
Sir  Gareth  had  espied  Sir  Gawaine's  conditions,  he  with- 


140  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

drew  himself  from  his  brother  Sir  Gawaine's  fellowship, 
for  he  was  vengeable  and  unmerciful,  and  whereas  [wher- 
ever}  he  hated  he  would  be  avenged  with  murder  and 
treason,  and  that  hated  Sir  Gareth. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

OF  THE  GREAT  ROYALTY  AND  WHAT  OFFICERS  WERE  MADE  AT  THI 
FEAST  OF  SIR  GARETH  AND  DAME  LYONESS'  WEDDING,  AND  OF  THE 
GREAT  JOUSTING  AT  THE  SAME  FEAST  AND  WEDDING. 

SO  it  drew  fast  to  Michaelmas,  and  thither  came  aame 
Lyoness  and  her  sister  dame  Linet,  with  Sir  Gringa- 
mor  their  brother  with  them,  for  he  had  the  guiding  of 
those  ladies.  And  there  they  were  lodged  at  the  devise 
of  King  Arthur.  And  on  Michaelmas  Day  the  archbishop 
of  Canterbury  made  the  wedding  between  Sir  Gareth  and 
the  lady  Lyoness  with  great  solemnity.  And  King 
Arthur  made  Sir  Gaheris  to  wed  the  damsel  savage  that 
was  dame  Linet.  And  King  Arthur  made  Sir  Agravaine 
to  wed  dame  Lyoness'  niece,  a  fair  lady,  her  name  was 
dame  Laurel.  And  so  when  this  solemnization  was  done, 
then  there  came  in  the  green  knight  that  hight  [was 
named}  Sir  Pertolope,  with  thirty  knights,  and  there  he 
did  homage  and  fealty  unto  Sir  Gareth,  and  these  knights 
to  hold  of  him  for  evermore.  Also  Sir  Pertolope  said,  "  1 
pray  you  that  at  this  feast  I  may  be  your  chamberlain." 

"With  a  good  will,"  said  Sir  Gareth,  "sith  it  liketh  you 
to  take  so  simple  an  office." 

Then  came  in  the  red  knight,  with  threescore  knights 
with  him,  and  did  to  Sir  Gareth  homage  and  fealty,  and 
all  those  knights  to  hold  of  him  for  evermore,  and  then 


Of  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney.  141 

Sir  Perimones  prayed  Sir  Gareth  to  grant  him  for  to  be 
his  chief  butler  at  that  high  feast. 

"I  will  well,"  said  Sir  Gareth,  "that  ye  have  this  office, 
and  it  were  better." 

Then  came  in  Sir  Persant  of  Inde,  with  an  hundred 
knights  with  him,  and  there  he  did  homage  and  fealty 
unto  Sir  Gareth,  and  all  his  knights  should  do  him  service 
and  hold  their  lands  of  him  for  evermore,  and  then  he 
prayed  Sir  Gareth  to  make  him  the  chief  sewer  *  at  the 
feast. 

"I  will  well,"  said  Sir  Gareth,  "that  ye  have  it,  and  it 
were  better." 

Then  came  in  the  Duke  de  la  Rowse  with  an  hundred 
knights  with  him,  and  there  he  did  homage  and  fealty 
unto  Sir  Gareth,  and  so  to  hold  their  lands  of  him  for- 
ever ;  and  he  required  Sir  Gareth  that  he  might  serve  him 
of  the  wine  that  day  at  the  feast. 

"I  will  well,"  said  Sir  Gareth,  "and  it  were  better." 

Then  came  in  the  red  knight  of  the  red  lawns,  that 
was  Sir  Ironside,  and  he  brought  with  him  three  hundred 
knights,  and  there  he  did  homage  and  fealty,  and  all  these 
knights  to  hold  their  lands  of  him  forever,  and  then  he 
asked  Sir  Gareth  to  be  his  carver. 

"I  will  well,"  said  Sir  Gareth,  "and  it  please  you." 

Then  came  into  the  court  thirty  ladies,  and  all  they 
seemed  widows,  and  those  thirty  ladies  brought  with  them 
many  fair  gentlewomen ;  and  all  they  kneeled  down  at 
once  unto  King  Arthur  and  to  Sir  Gareth,  and  there  all 
those  ladies  told  the  king  how  Sir  Gareth  had  delivered 
them  from  the  Dolorous  Tower,  and  slew  the  brown  knight 
without  pity ;  "  and  therefore  we  and  our  heirs  for  ever- 
more will  do  homage  unto  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney." 

1  "  Sewer : "  the  sewer  saw  the  dishes  set  on  the  table,  and  tasted  them, 
against  harm  to  the  master. 


142  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

So  then  the  kings  and  queens,  princes,  earls  and  barons, 
and  many  bold  knights,  went  unto  meat,  and  well  may  ye 
wit  that  there  was  all  manner  of  meat  plenteously,  all  man- 
ner revels  and  games,  with  all  manner  of  minstrelsy  that 
was  used  in  those  days.  Also  there  was  great  jousts  three 
days.  But  the  king  would  not  suffer  Sir  Gareth  to  joust 
because  of  his  new  bride;  for  the  French  book  saith 
that  dame  Lyoness  desired  the  king  that  none  that  were 
wedded  should  joust  at  that  feast.  So  the  first  day  there 
jousted  Sir  Lamorak  de  Galis,  for  he  overthrew  thirty 
knights,  and  did  passing  marvellous  deeds  of  arms.  And 
then  King  Arthur  made  Sir  Persant  of  Inde  and  his  two 
brethren  knights  of  the  Round  Table  to  their  lives'  end, 
and  gave  them  great  lands.  Also  the  second  day  there 
jousted  Tristram  best,  and  he  overthrew  forty  knights, 
and  did  there  marvellous  deeds  of  arms. 

And  there  King  Arthur  made  Sir  Ironside,  that  was  the 
red  knight  of  the  red  lawns,  a  knight  of  the  Round  Table 
unto  his  life's  end,  and  gave  him  great  lands.  The  third 
day  there  jousted  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  and  he  over- 
threw fifty  knights,  and  did  many  marvellous  deeds  of 
arms,  that  all  men  had  great  wonder  of  his  noble  deeds. 
And  there  King  Arthur  made  the  Duke  de  la  Rowse  a 
knight  of  the  Round  Table  to  his  life's  end,  and  gave  him 
great  lands  to  spend.  But  when  these  jousts  were  done, 
Sir  Lamorak  and  Sir  Tristram  departed  suddenly,  and 
would  not  be  known,  for  the  which  King  Arthur  and  iJl 
his  court  were  sore  displeased.  And  so  they  held  the 
feast  forty  days  with  great  solemnity.  And  this  Sir 
Gareth  was  a  full  noble  knight,  and  a  well  ruled,  and 
fair  languaged. 

Thus  endeth  the  history  of  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney,  that 
wedded  dame  Lyoness  of  the  Castle  Perilous.  And  also 


Of  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney.  143 

Sir  Gaheris  wedded  her  sister  dame  Linet,  that  was  called 
the  damsel  savage.  And  Sir  Agravaine  wedded  dame 
Laurel,  a  fair  lady.  And  great  and  mighty  lands  with 
great  riches  gave  with  them  the  noble  King  Arthur,  that 
royally  they  might  live  unto  their  lives'  end. 


BOOK    IV. 
OF   SIR    TRISTRAM. 


CHAPTER  I. 

HOW    Sl»    TWSTKAM    DE    LYONESSE  WAS    BORN,  AND    HOW  HIS    MOIHM 
DESIRED  THAT   UlS   NAME  SHOULD  BE  TRISTRAM.1 

THERE  was  a  knight  that  hight  Meliodas,  and  he 
was  lord  and  king  of  the  country  of  Lyonesse,  and 
this  King  Meliodas  was  as  likely  a  man  as  any  was  at  that 
time  living.  And  by  fortune  he  wedded  King  Mark's 
sister  of  Cornwall,  whose  name  was  Elizabeth,  and  she 
was  a  right  fair  lady  and  a  good. 

[And  it  befell  on  a  day  that  a  certain  enchantress 
wrought  as  he  rode  on  hunting,  for  he  was  a  great  hunter, 
and  made  him  chase  an  hart  by  himself  till  that  he  came 
to  an  old  castle,  and  there  she  took  him  prisoner.  Now 
when  Queen  Elizabeth  missed  her  husband  King  Meliodas, 
she  was  nigh  out  of  her  wit ;  and  she  took  a  gentlewoman 
with  her  and  ran  far  into  the  forest  and  took  such  cold 
that  she  might  not  recover.  And  when  she  saw]  that  the 
deep  draughts  of  death  took  her,  that  needs  she  must  die 
and  depart  out  of  this  world  [and]  there  was  none  other 

1  "  Tristram,"  Irom  the  Frcech  trute,  meaning  sad. 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  145 

boot  [aid,  or  hope\  she  made  great  moan  and  sorrow,  and 
said  unto  her  gentlewoman  :  "  When  ye  see  my  lord  King 
Meliodas,  recommend  me  unto  him,  and  tell  him  what 
pairs  I  endure  for  his  love,  and  how  I  must  die  here  for 
hia  sake,  and  for  default  of  good  help,  and  let  him  wit 
that  I  am  full  sorry  to  depart  out  of  this  world  from  him, 
therefore  pray  him  to  be  good  friend  unto  my  soul.  And 
I  charge  thee,  gentlewoman,  that,  thou  beseech  my  lord 
King  Meliodas,  that  when  my  son  shall  be  christened 
let  him  be  named  Tristram,  that  is  as  much  to  say  as 
sorrowful  birth." 

And  therewithal  this  Queen  Elizabeth  gave  up  her 
ghost,  and  died  in  the  same  place.  Then  the  gentle- 
woman laid  her  under  the  shadow  of  a  great  tree. 


CHAPTER  II. 

[How  THE  STEPMOTHER  OF  YOUNG  TRISTRAM  WOULD  HAVE  POISONED 
HIM,  AND  HOW  HE  DELIVERED  HER  FROM  THE  FlRE,  OF  HIS  GREAT 
FORGIVENESS.] 

ND  it  so  happened  that  after  seven  years  King 
Meliodas  took  him  a  second  wife,  and  wedded 
King  Howell's  daughter  of  Brittany.  And  the  new 
queen  was  jealous  of  young  Tristram  in  the  behalf  of 
her  own  children,  and  put  poison  for  Tristram  to  drink. 
But  by  strange  hap  her  own  son  drank  the  poison  and 
died.  Then  again  she  put  poison  in  some  drink  for 
Tristram ;  and]  by  fortune  the  King  Meliodas  her  hus- 
band found  the  piece  \cup\  with  the  wine  whereas  the 
poison  was  in,  and  he,  that  was  most  thirsty,  took  the 
piece  for  to  drink  thereof,  and  as  he  would  have  drunken 


146  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

thereof  the  queen  espied  him,  and  then  she  ran  unto  him 
and  pulled  the  piece  from  him  suddenly.  The  king  mar- 
velled why  she  did  so,  and  remembered  him  how  her  son 
was  suddenly  slain  with  poison.  And  then  he  took  her 
by  the  hand,  and  thus  said  to  her  :  "  Thou  false  traitress, 
thou  shalt  tell  me  what  manner  of  drink  this  is,  or  else  I 
shall  slay  thee."  And  therewith  he  pulled  out  his  sword, 
and  swore  a  great  oath  that  he  would  slay  her  but  if  she 
told  him  truth. 

"  Ah  I  mercy,  my  lord,"  said  she,  "  and  I  shall  tell  you 
all." 

And  then  she  told  him  why  that  she  would  have  slain 
Tristram,  because  her  children  sh6uld  rejoice  the  land. 

"Well,"  said  King  Meliodas,  "therefore  shall  ye  have 
the  law." 

And  so  she  was  damned  [condemned}  by  the  assent  of 
the  barons  to  be  burnt ;  and  then  there  was  made  a  great 
fire,  and  right  as  she  was  at  the  fire  for  to  take  her  execu- 
tion, young  Tristram  kneeled  down  before  King  Meliodas, 
his  father,  and  besought  him  to  give  him  a  boon. 

"  I  will  well,"  said  the  king. 

Then  said  young  Tristram,  "  Give  me  the  life  of  your 
queen,  my  stepmother." 

"That  is  unrightfully  asked,"  said  his  father,  King 
Meliodas,  "  for  she  would  have  slain  thee  with  that  poison 
and  she  might  have  had  her  will,  and  for  thy  sake  most  is 
my  cause  that  she  should  die." 

"  Sir,"  said  Tristram,  "  as  for  that  I  beseech  you  of  your 
mercy  that  ye  will  forgive  it  her,  and  as  for  my  part,  God 
forgive  it  her,  and  I  do,  and  so  much  it  liketh  your  high- 
ness to  grant  me  my  boon,  for  God's  love  I  pray  you  hold 
your  promise." 

"  Sith  it  is  so,"  said  the  king,  "  I  will  that  ye  have  her 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  147 

life  and  give  her  to  you,  and  go  ye  to  the  fire  and  take 
her,  and  do  with  her  what  ye  will." 

So  young  Tristram  went  to  the  fire,  and,  by  the  command 
of  the  king,  delivered  her  from  the  death. 

And  by  the  good  means  of  young  Tristram  he  made  the 
king  and  her  accord. 


CHAPTER  III. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  WAS  SENT  INTO  FRANCE,  AND  HAD  ONE  TO  GOVERN 

HIM    NAMED    GOUVERNAIL,  AND    HOW  HE    LEARNED    TO    HARP,  HAWK. 
AND  HUNT. 

AND  then  [King  Meliodas]  let  ordain  a  gentleman  that 
was  well  learned  and  taught ;  his  name  was  Gouver- 
nail ;  and  he  sent  young  Tristram  with  Gouvernail  into 
France,  to  learn  the  language,  and  nurture,  and  deeds  of 
arms.  And  there  was  Tristram  more  than  seven  years. 
And  then  when  he  well  could  speak  the  language,  and  had 
learned  all  that  he  might  learn  in  that  country,  then  he 
came  home  to  his  father  King  Meliodas  again.  And  so 
Tristram  learned  to  be  an  harper  passing  all  other,  that 
there  was  none  such  called  in  no  country,  and  so  in  harp- 
ing and  on  instruments  of  music  he  applied  him  in  his 
youth  for  to  learn.  And  after  as  he  grew  in  might  and 
strength  he  laboured  ever  in  hunting  and  in  hawking,  so 
that  never  gentleman  more,  that  ever  we  heard  tell  of. 


148  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

How  SIR  MARHAUS  CAMS  our  OF  IRELAND  FOR  TO  ASK  TRUAGI'  or 
CORNWALL,  OR  ELSE  HE  WOULD  FIGHT  THEREFORE. 

THEN  it  befell  that  King  Anguish  of  Ireland  sent  to 
King  Mark  of  Cornwall  for  his  truage,  which  Corn- 
wall had  paid  many  winters  afore  time,  and  all  that  time 
King  Mark  was  behind  of  the  truage  for  seven  years. 
And  King  Mark  and  his  barons  gave  unto  the  messenger 
of  Ireland  this  answer,  and  said  that  they  would  none  pay, 
and  bade  the  messenger  go  unto  his  King  Anguish,  and 
tell  him  "  that  we  will  pay  him  no  truage ;  but  tell  your 
lord,  and  he  will  always  have  truage  of  us  of  Cornwall, 
bid  him  send  a  trusty  knight  of  his  land  that  will  fight  for 
his  right,  and  we  shall  find  another  to  defend  our  right." 
With  this  answer  the  messenger  departed  into  Ireland. 
And  when  King  Anguish  understood  the  answer  of  the 
messenger,  he  was  wondrous  wroth ;  and  then  he  called 
unto  him  Sir  Marhaus  the  good  knight  that  was  nobly 
proved,  and  a  knight  of  the  Round  Table.  And  this  Sir 
Marhaus  was  brother  unto  the  queen  of  Ireland.  Then 
the  king  [prayed  Sir  Marhaus  that  he  would  go  and  fight 
for  his  truage  of  Cornwall]. 

"  Sir,"  said  Sir  Marhaus,  "  wit  [know]  ye  well  that  I 
shall  not  be  loth  to  do  battle  in  the  right  of  you  and  your 
land  with  the  best  knight  of  the  Round  Table,  for  I  know 
what  their  deeds  be,  and  for  to  increase  my  worship 
[worth-skip]  I  will  right  gladly  go  to  this  journey  for  our 
right." 

So  in  all  haste  there  was  made  purveyance  for  Sir  Mar- 

1  "  Truage,"  tribute. 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  149 

haus,  and  so  he  departed  out  of  Ireland,  and  arrived  up  in 
Cornwall,  even  fast  by  the  castle  of  Tintagil.  And  when 
King  Mark  understood  that  he  was  there  arrived  to  fight 
for  Ireland,  then  made  King  Mark  great  sorrow.  For 
they  knew  no  knight  that  durst  have  ado  with  him.  For  at 
that  time  Sir  Marhaus  was  called  one  of  the  famousest 
and  renowned  knights  of  the  world. 

And  thus  Sir  Marhaus  abode  in  the  sea,  and  every  day 
he  sent  unto  King  Mark  for  to  pay  the  truage  that  was 
behind  of  seven  year,  or  else  to  find  a  knight  to  fight  with 
him  for  the  truage.  Then  they  of  Cornwall  let  make 
cries  in  every  place,  that  what  knight  would  fight  for  to 
save  the  truage  of  Cornwall  he  should  be  rewarded  so  that 
he  should  fare  the  better  the  term  of  his  life.  Then  some 
of  the  barons  said  to  King  Mark,  and  counselled  him  tc 
send  to  the  court  of  King  Arthur  for  to  seek  Sir  Launce- 
lot  du  Lake.  Then  there  were  some  other  barons  that 
counselled  the  king  not  to  do  so,  and  said  that  it  was 
labour  in  vain,  because  Sir  Marhaus  was  a  knight  of  the 
Round  Table,  therefore  any  of  them  will  be  loth  to  have 
ado  with  other.  So  the  king  and  all  his  barons  assented 
that  it  was  no  boot  {help}  to  seek  any  knight  of  the 
Round  Table.  When  young  Tristram  heard  of  this  he 
was  wroth  and  sore  ashamed  that  there  durst  no  knight  in 
Cornwall  have  ado  with  Sir  Marhaus  of  Ireland 


150  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER  V. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  ENTERPRISE!)  THE   BATTLE  TO   FIGHT  FOR  TFI 
TRUAGE  OF  CORNWALL,  AND  HOW  HE  WAS  MADE  KNIGHT. 

THEREWITHAL  Sir  Tristram  went  unto  his  father 
King  Meliodas,  and  asked  him  counsel  what  was  best 
to  do  for  to  recover  the  country  of  Cornwall  for  truage. 
"  For  as  me  seemeth,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  it  were  shame 
that  Sir  Marhaus,  the  queen's  brother  of  Ireland,  should 
go  away,  unless  that  he  were  not  fought  withal." 

"As  for  that,"  said  King  Meliodas,  "wit  ye  well,  my 
son  Tristram,  that  Sir  Marhaus  is  called  one  of  the  best 
knights  of  the  world,  and  knight  of  the  Round  Table,  and 
therefore  I  know  no  knight  in  this  country  that  is  able  to 
match  with  him." 

"  Alas  ! "  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  that  I  am  not  made  knight, 
and  if  Sir  Marhaus  should  thus  depart  into  Ireland,  God 
let  me  never  have  worship ;  and  I  were  made  knight  I 
shi  /uld  match  him ;  and  sir,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  I  pray 
you  to  give  me  leave  to  ride  unto  mine  uncle  King  Mark, 
and  so  ye  be  not  displeased,  of  King  Mark  will  I  be  made 
knight." 

"  I  will  well,"  said  King  Meliodas,  "  that  ye  be  ruled  as 
your  courage  will  rule  you." 

And  then  Sir  Tristram  thanked  his  father  much,  and  so 
made  him  ready  to  ride  into  Cornwall.  And  in  the  mean 
while  there  came  a  messenger  with  letters  of  love  from 
the  daughter  of  King  Faramon  of  France,  unto  Sir  Tris- 
tram, that  were  full  piteous  letters,  and  in  them  were 
written  many  complaints  of  love.  But  Sir  Tristram  had 
no  joy  of  her  letters,  nor  regard  unto  her.  Also  she  sent 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  151 

him  a  little  brachet  [hunting  hound}  that  was  passing 
fair.  But  when  the  king's  daughter  understood  that 
Tristram  would  not  love  her,  she  died  for  sorrow.  So 
this  young  Sir  Tristram  rode  unto  his  uncle  King  Mark 
of  Cornwall.  And  when  he  came  there  he  heard  say  that 
there  would  no  knight  fight  with  Sir  Marhaus.  Then 
went  Sir  Tristram  unto  his  uncle  and  said,  — 

"  Sir,  if  ye  will  give  me  the  order  of  knighthood  I  will 
do  battle  with  Sir  Marhaus." 

"What  are  ye?"  said  the  king,  "and  from  whence  be 
ye  come  ? " 

"Sir,"  said  Tristram,  "I  come  from  King  Meliodas 
that  wedded  your  sister,  and  a  gentleman  wit  ye  well  I 
am." 

King  Mark  beheld  Sir  Tristram,  and  saw  that  he  was 
but  a  young  man  of  age,  but  he  was  passingly  well  made 
and  big. 

"Fair  sir,"  said  the  king,  "what  is  your  name,  and 
where  were  ye  born  ? " 

"  Sir,"  said  he  again,  "  my  name  is  Tristram,  and  in  the 
country  of  Lyonesse  was  I  born." 

"Ye  say  well,"  said  the  king,  "and  if  ye  will  do  this 
battle  I  shall  make  you  knight." 

"Therefore  I  come  to  you,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "and 
for  none  other  cause. " 

Put  then  King  Mark  made  him  knight.  And  there- 
withal anon  as  he  had  made  him  knight,  he  sent  a  mes- 
senger unto  Sir  Marhaus  with  letters  that  said  that  he 
had  found  a  young  knight  ready  for  to  take  the  battle  to 
the  uttermost. 

"  It  may  well  be,"  said  Sir  Marhaus ;  "  but  tell  unto 
King  Mark  that  I  will  not  fight  with  no  knight  but  if  he 
be  of  blood  royal,  that  is  to  say  either  king's  son  or 
queen's  son,  born  of  a  prince  or  princess." 


152  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

When  King  Mark  understood  that,  he  sent  for  Sir 
Tristram  de  Lyonesse,  and  told  him  what  was  the  answer 
of  Sir  Marhaus.  Then  said  Sir  Tristram,  — 

"Since  he  sayeth  so,  let  him  wit  that  I  am  come  of 
father's  side  and  mother's  side  of  as  noble  blood  as  he  is. 
For,  sir,  now  shall  ye  know  that  I  am  King  Meliodas' 
son,  born  of  your  own  sister  dame  Elizabeth,  that  died  in 
the  forest  in  the  birth  of  me." 

"  Yea! "  said  King  Mark,  "ye  are  welcome  fair  nephew 
to  me." 

Then  in  all  the  haste  the  king  let  horse  Sir  Tristram 
and  arm  him  in  the  best  manner  that  might  be  had  or 
gotten  for  gold  or  silver.  And  then  King  Mark  sent  unto 
Sir  Marhaus,  and  did  him  to  wit  [let  him  know\  that  a 
better  born  man  than  he  was  himself  should  fight  with  him, 
and  his  name  is  Sir  Tristram  de  Lyonesse,  [son  of]  King 
Meliodas,  and  born  of  King  Mark's  sister.  Then  was  Sir 
Marhaus  glad  and  blithe  that  he  should  fight  with  such  a 
gentleman.  And  so  by  the  assent  of  King  Mark  and 
Sir  Marhaus  they  let  ordain  that  they  should  fight  within 
an  island  nigh  Sir  Marhaus'  ships ;  and  so  was  young  Sir 
Tristram  put  into  a  little  vessel,  both  his  horse  and  he, 
and  all  that  to  him  belonged  both  for  his  body  and  for 
his  horse,  so  that  Sir  Tristram  lacked  no  manner  thing. 
And  when  King  Mark  and  his  barons  of  Cornwall  beheld 
how  young  Sir  Tristram  departed  with  such  a  carriage 
[that  is,  carrying  himself  so  bravely}  to  fight  for  the  right 
of  Cornwall,  wit  ye  well'  there  was  neither  man  nor  woman 
of  worship  but  they  wept  for  to  see  so  young  a  knight 
jeopard  himself  for  their  right 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  153 


CHAPTER  VI. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  ARRIVED  INTO  THE  ISLAND  FOR  TO  FURNISH  THI 
BATTLE  WITH  SIR  MARHAUS. 

F*OR  to  make  short  this  tale,  that  when  Sir  Tristram 
was  arrived  within  the  island,  then  he  looked  to  the 
further  side,  and  there  he  saw  at  an  anchor  six  ships  nigh 
to  the  land,  and  under  the  shadow  of  the  ships,  upon  the 
land,  there  hoved  [hovered]  the  noble  knight  Sir  Marhaus 
of  Ireland.  And  then  Sir  Tristram  commanded  his  ser- 
vant Gouvernail  for  to  bring  his  horse  to  the  land,  and 
dress  his  harness  at  all  manner  of  rights.  And  when 
he  had  so  done,  he  mounted  upon  his  horse.  And  when  he 
was  in  his  saddle  well  apparelled,  and  his  shield  dressed 
upon  his  shoulder,  Sir  Tristram  asked  Gouvernail,  "  Where 
is  this  knight  that  I  shall  have  to  do  withal  ? " 

"  Sir,"  said  his  servant  Gouvernail,  "  see  ye  him  not  ? 
I  wend  ye  had  seen  him,  yonder  he  hoveth  under  the 
shadow  of  his  ships  upon  horseback,  and  his  spear  in  his 
hand,  and  his  shield  upon  his  shoulder." 

"  It  is  truth,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  now  I  see  him  well 
enough." 

And  then  he  commanded  his  servant  Gouvernail  to  go 
again  unto  his  vessel,  and  commend  him  "unto  mine 
uncle  King  Mark,  and  pray  him  that  if  I  be  slain  in  this 
battle,  for  to  bury  my  body  as  him  seemeth  best,  and,  as 
for  me,  let  him  wit  that  I  will  never  yield  me  for  no  cow- 
ardice, and  if  I  be  slain  and  flee  not,  then  have  they  lost 
no  truage  for  me.  And  if  so  be  that  I  flee  or  yield  me  as 
recreant,  bid  mine  uncle  never  bury  me  in  Christian 
burials  And  upon  my  life,"  said  Sir  Tristram  to  Gouver- 


154  -The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

nail,  "come  thou  not  nigh  this  island   till  thou  sec  m« 
overcome  or  slain,  or  else  that  I  win  yonder  knight." 
And  so  either  departed  from  other  weeping. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

flow  SIR  TRISTRAM  FOUGHT  AGAINST  SIR  MARHAUS  AND  FINISHED  mi 
BATTLE,  AND  HOW  SIR  MARHAUS  FLED  TO  HIS  SHIPS. 

AND  then  Sir  Marhaus  perceived  Sir  Tristram,  and 
thus  said  unto  him :  "  Young  knight  Sir  Tristram, 
what  doest  thou  here  ?  Me  sore  repenteth  of  thy  courage, 
for  wit  thou  well  I  have  matched  with  the  best  knights  of 
the  world,  and  therefore  by  my  counsel  return  again  to  thy 
ship." 

"  Fair  knight  and  well  proved  knight,"  said  Sir  Tristram, 
"  thou  shalt  well  wit  that  I  may  not  forsake  thee  in  this 
quarrel,  for  I  am  for  thy  sake  made  knight,  and  thou  shalt 
well  wit  that  I  am  a  king's  son  born,  and  such  promise 
have  I  made  at  mine  uncle's  request  and  mine  own  seek- 
ing, that  I  shall  fight  with  thee  unto  the  uttermost,  to 
deliver  Cornwall  from  the  old  truage.  Also  wit  ye  well, 
Sir  Marhaus,  that  for  ye  are  called  one  of  the  best  re- 
nowned knights  of  the  world,  and  because  of  that  noise 
and  fame  that  ye  have,  it  will  do  me  good  to  have  to  do 
with  you,  for  never  yet  sith  [since]  that  I  was  born  of  my 
mother  was  I  proved  with  a  good  knight,  and  also  sith  I 
have  taken  the  high  order  of  knighthood  this  day,  I  am 
right  well  pleased  that  I  may  have  to  do  with  so  good  a 
knight  as  ye  are.  And  now  wit  ye  well,  Sir  Marhaus  of 
Ireland,  that  I  cast  me  to  win  worship  on  thy  body,  I 
trust  to  God  I  shall  be  worshipfully  proved  upon  thy  body 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  155 

and  for  to  deliver  the  country  of  Cornwall  foiever  from 
all  manner  of  truage  from  Ireland." 

And  when  the  good  knight  Sir  Marhaus  had  heard  him 
say  what  him  list,  then  said  he  thus  again  :  "  Fair  knight, 
sith  it  is  so  that  thou  castest  thee  to  win  worship  on  me, 
I  let  thee  wit  that  no  worship  maist  thou  leese  [lose]  by 
me,  if  thou  mayst  stand  me  three  strokes,  for  I  let  you 
wit  that  for  my  noble  deeds,  proved  and  seen,  King  Ar- 
thur made  me  knight  of  the  Table  Round."  Then  they 
began  to  feuter  [place  in  rest}  their  spears,  and  they  met 
so  fiercely  together  that  they  smote  either  other  down 
both  horse  and  all.  But  Sir  Marhaus  smote  Sir  Tristram 
a  great  wound  in  the  side  with  his  spear,  and  then  they 
avoided  their  horses,  and  pulled  out  their  swords,  and 
threw  their  shields  afore  them,  and  then  they  lashed  to- 
gether as  men  than  were  wild  and  courageous.  And  when 
they  had  stricken  so  together  long,  then  they  left  their 
strokes,  and  foined  [thrust,  in  feinting] ;  and  when  they 
saw  that  that  might  not  prevail  them,  then  they  hurtled 
together  like  rams  to  bear  either  other  down.  Thus  they 
fought  still  more  than  half  a  day,  and  either  were  wounded 
passing  sore,  that  the  blood  ran  down  freshly  from  them 
upon  the  ground.  By  then  Sir  Tristram  waxed  more 
fresher  than  Sir  Marhaus,  and  better  winded  and  bigger, 
and  with  a  mighty  stroke  he  smote  Sir  Marhaus  upon  the 
helm  such  a  buffet,  that  it  went  through  his  helm,  and 
through  the  coif  of  steel,  and  through  the  brain-pan,  and 
the  sword  stuck  so  fast  in  the  helm  and  in  his  brain-pan 
that  Sir  Tristram  pulled  thrice  at  his  sword  or  ever  he 
might  pull  it  out  from  his  head,  and  there  Marhaus  fell 
down  on  his  knees,  [and  a  piece  of]  the  edge  of  Tristram's 
sword  [was]  left  in  his  brain-pan.  And  suddenly  Sir  Mar- 
haus rose  grovelling,  and  threw  his  sword  and  his  shield 


156  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

from  him,  and  so  ran  to  his  ships  and  fled  his  way,  and 
Sir  Tristram  had  ever  his  shield  and  his  sword.  And 
when  Sir  Tristram  saw  Sir  Marhaus  withdraw  him,  he 
said,  "  Ah,  sir  knight  of  the  Round  Table,  why  withdraw 
est  thou  thee ;  thou  doest  thyself  and  thy  kin  great  shame, 
for  I  am  but  a  young  knight,  or  now  I  was  never  proved, 
and  rather  than  I  should  withdraw  me  from  thee,  I  had 
rather  be  hewn  in  an  hundred  pieces."  Sir  Marhaus  an- 
swered no  word,  but  went  his  way  sore  groaning. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
How  SIR  MARHAUS,  AFTER  HE  WAS  ARRIVED  IN  IRELAND,  DIED  OF  THE 

STROKE  THAT  TRISTRAM    HAD    GIVEN    HIM,  AND    HOW  TRISTRAM  WAS 
HURT. 

ANON  Sir  Marhaus  and  his  fellowship  departed  into 
Ireland.  And  as  soon  as  he  came  to  the  king  his 
brother  he  let  search  his  wounds.  And  when  his  head 
was  searched,  a  piece  of  Sir  Tristram's  sword  was  found 
therein,  and  might  never  be  had  out  of  his  head  for  no 
surgeons,  and  so  he  died  of  Sir  Tristram's  sword,  and  that 
piece  of  the  sword  the  queen  his  sister  kept  it  for  ever 
with  her,  for  she  thought  to  be  revenged  and  she  might. 

Now  turn  we  again  unto  Sir  Tristram,  that  was  sore 
wounded,  and  full  sore  bled,  that  he  might  not  within  a 
little  while  when  he  had  taken  cold  scarcely  stir  him  of 
his  limbs.  And  then  he  set  him  down  softly  upon  a  little 
hill,  and  bled  fast.  Then  anon  came  Gouvernail  his  man 
with  his  vessel,  and  the  king  and  his  barons  came  with 
procession,  and  when  he  was  come  to  the  land,  King  Mark 
took  him  in  both  his  arms,  and  the  king  and  Sir  Dinas 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  157 

the  seneschal  led  Sir  Tristram  into  the  castle  of  Tintagil, 
and  then  were  his  wounds  searched  in  the  best  manner, 
and  laid  in  bed.  And  when  King  Mark  saw  all  his 
wounds,  he  wept  right  heartily,  and  so  did  all  his  lords. 

"So  God  me  help,'1  said  King  Mark,  "I  would  not  for 
all  my  lands  that  my  nephew  died." 

So  Sir  Tristram  lay  there  a  month  and  more,  and  was 
like  to  have  died  of  the  stroke  that  Sir  Marhaus  had  given 
him  first  with  his  spear.  For,  as  the  French  book  saith, 
that  spear's  head  was  envenomed,  that  Sir  Tristram  might 
not  be  whole  thereof.  Then  was  King  Mark  and  all  his 
barons  passing  heavy,  for  they  deemed  none  other  but 
that  Sir  Tristram  should  not  recover.  So  the  king  let 
send  after  all  manner  of  leeches  and  surgeons,  both  men 
and  women,  and  there  was  none  that  would  warrant  him 
his  life.  Then  came  there  a  lady,  which  was  a  full  wise 
lady,  and  she  said  plainly  unto  King  Mark  and  unto  Sir 
Tristram  and  unto  all  the  barons,  that  he  should  never 
be  whole,  but  if  Sir  Tristram  went  into  the  same  country 
that  the  venom  came  from,  and  in  that  country  should  he 
be  holpen  or  else  never.  When  King  Mark  had  well  heard 
what  the  lady  said,  forthwith  he  let  purvey  for  Sir  Tris- 
tram a  fair  vessel,  and  well  victualled  it,  and  therein  was 
put  Sir  Tristram  and  Gouvernail  with  him,  and  Sir  Tris- 
tram took  his  harp  with  him,  and  so  he  was  put  to  sea,  for 
to  sail  into  Ireland,  and  so  by  good  fortune  he  arrived  up 
into  Ireland  even  fast  by  a  castle  where  the  king  and  the 
queen  were,  and  at  his  arriving  he  sat  and  harped  in  his 
bed  a  merry  lay,  such  one  had  they  never  heard  in  Ireland 
afore  that  time.  And  when  it  was  told  the  king  and  the 
queen  of  such  a  knight  that  was  such  a  harper,  anon  the 
king  sent  for  him,  and  let  search  his  wound,  and  then  he 
asked  him  what  was  his  name.  He  answered  and  said,  — 


158  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"I  am  of  the  country  of  Lyonesse,  and  my  name  is 
Tramtrist,  [and  I  have]  been  wounded  in  a  battle  as  1 
fought  for  a  lady's  right." 

"Truly,"  said  King  Anguish,  "ye  shall  have  all  the 
help  in  this  land  that  ye  may  have  here.  But  I  let  you 
wit  in  Cornwall  I  had  a  great  loss  as  ever  had  king,  for 
there  I  lost  the  best  knight  of  the  world,  his  name  was 
Marhaus,  a  full  noble  knight,  and  knight  of  the  Table 
Round;"  and  there  he  told  Sir  Tristram  wherefore  Sir 
Marhaus  was  slain.  Sir  Tristram  made  semblant  [like]  as 
he  had  been  sorry,  and  better  knew  he  how  it  was  than 
the  king. 


CHAPTER   IX. 
Horw  SIR  TRISTRAM  WAS  PUT  TO  THE  KEEPING  OF  LA  BELLE  ISOLDE 

FOR  TO  BE  HEALED  OF  HIS  WOUND. 

THEN  the  king  for  great  favor  made  Tramtrist  to 
be  put  in  his  daughter's  ward  and  keeping,  because 
she  was  a  noble  surgeon.  And  when  she  had  searched 
his  wound,  she  found  in  the  bottom  of  his  wound  that 
there  was  poison,  and  within  a  little  while  she  healed  him, 
and  therefore  Tramtrist  cast  great  love  to  la  Belle  Isolde, 
for  she  was  at  that  time  the  fairest  lady  of  the  world,  and 
then  Sir  Tramtrist  [taught]  her  to  harp,  and  she  began  to 
have  a  great  fantasy  unto  Sir  Tramtrist.  And  at  that 
time  Sir  Palamides,  that  was  a  Saracen,  was  in  that  coun- 
try, and  was  well  cherished  both  of  the  king  and  the 
queen,  and  he  proffered  her  many  great  gifts,  for  he  loved 
her  passing  well.  And  all  that  espied  right  well  Sir 
Tramtrist,  and  full  well  he  knew  Sir  Palamides  for  a  noble 
knight  and  a  mighty  man. 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  159 

Thus  was  there  great  envy  between  Sir  Tramtrist  and 
Sir  Palamides.  Then  it  befell  that  King  Anguish  let  cry 
a  great  joust  and  a  great  tournament  for  a  lady  which 
was  called  the  lady  of  the  lawns,  and  she  was  nigh  cousin 
unto  the  king,  and  what  man  that  should  win  her  should 
wed  her  three  days  after,  and  have  all  her  lands.  This 
cry  was  made  in  England,  Wales,  and  Scotland,  and  also 
in  France  and  in  Britain.  It  befell  upon  a  day  la  Belle 
Isolde  came  to  Sir  Tramtrist  and  told  him  of  this  tour- 
nament. 

"Ah!  Tramtrist,"  said  la  Belle  Isolde,  "why  will  ye 
not  have  to  do  at  that  tournament  ?  well  I  wot  Sir  Pala- 
mides will  be  there  and  do  what  he  may,  and  therefore, 
Sir  Tramtrist,  I  pray  you  to  be  there,  for  else  Sir  Pala- 
mides is  like  to  win  the  degree." 

"  Madam,"  said  Sir  Tramtrist,  "  as  for  that  he  may  do 
so,  for  he  is  a  proved  knight,  and  I  am  but  a  young  knight 
and  late  made,  and  the  first  battle  that  I  did  it  mishapped 
me  to  be  sore  wounded  as  ye  see.  But  and  I  wist  [if  I 
knew]  that  ye  would  be  my  better  lady,  at  that  tourna- 
ment I  will  be,  so  that  ye  will  keep  my  counsel,  and  let 
no  creature  have  knowledge  that  I  shall  joust  but  your- 
self, and  such  as  ye  will  to  keep  your  counsel ;  my  poor 
person  shall  I  jeopard  there  for  your  sake,  that  peradven- 
ture  Sir  Palamides  shall  know  when  that  I  come." 

"Thereto,"  said  la  Belle  Isolde,  "do  your  best,  and  as 
I  can,"  said  La  'Belle  Isolde,  "  I  shall  purvey  horse  and 
armor  for  you  at  my  devise." 

"As  ye  will  so  be  it,"  said  Sir  Tramtrist,  "I  will  be  at 
your  commandment." 

So  at  the  day  of  jousts  there  came  Sir  Palamides  with  a 
black  shield,  and  he  overthrew  many  knights,  that  all  the 
people  had  marvel  of  him.  For  he  put  to  the  worse  Sir 


1 60  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

Gawaine,  Gaheris,  Agravaine,  Bagdemagus,  Kay,  Dodias  le 
Savage,  Sagramore  le  Desirous,  Gumret  le  Petit,  and  Griflet 
le  Fise  de  Dieu.  All  these  the  first  day  Sir  Palamides 
strake  down  to  the  earth.  And  then  all  manner  of  knights 
were  adread  of  Sir  Palamides,  and  many  called  him  the 
knight  with  the  black  shield.  So  that  day  Sir  Palamides 
had  great  worship.  Then  came  King  Anguish  unto  Tram- 
trist  and  asked  him  why  he  would  not  joust. 

"  Sir,"  said  he,  "  I  was  but  late  hurt,  and  as  yet  I  dare 
not  adventure  me." 


CHAPTER  X. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  WON  THE  DEGREE  AT  A  TOURNAMENT  IN  IRELAND 

AND  THERE  MADE  PALAMIDES  TO  BEAR  NO  HARNESS  IN  A  YEAR. 

AND  so  on  the  morn  Sir  Palamides  made  him  ready  to 
come  into  the  field  as  he  did  the  first  day.  And 
there  he  smote  down  the  king  with  the  hundred  knights, 
and  the  king  of  Scotland.  Then  had  la  Belle  Isolde 
ordained  and  well  arrayed  Sir  Tramtrist  in  white  horse 
and  harness.  And  right  so  she  let  put  him  out  at  a  privy 
postern,  and  so  he  came  into  the  field  as  it  had  been  a 
bright  angel.  And  anon  Sir  Palamides  espied  him,  and 
therewith  he  feutered  [laid  in  rest]  a  spear  unto  Sir  Tram- 
trist, and  he  again  unto  him.  And  there  Sir  Tristram 
smote  down  Sir  Palamides  unto  the  earth.  And  then 
there  was  a  great  noise  of  people :  some  said  Sir  Pala- 
mides had  a  fall,  some  said  the  knight  with  the  black 
shield  had  a  fall.  And  wit  you  well  la  Belle  Isolde  was 
passing  glad.  And  then  Sir  Gawaine  and  his  fellows  nine 
had  marvel  what  knight  it  might  be  that  had  smitten  down 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  161 

Sir  Palamides.  Then  would  there  none  joust  with  Tram 
trist,  but  all  that  were  there  forsook  him,  most  and  least. 
And  when  Sir  Palamides  had  received  this  fall,  wit  ye  well 
he  was  sore  ashamed  ;  and  as  privily  as  he  might  he  with- 
drew him  out  of  the  field.  All  that  espied  Sir  Tristram, 
and  lightly  he  rode  after  Sir  Palamides,  and  overtook  him, 
and  bade  him  turn,  for  better  he  would  assay  him  or  ever 
he  departed.  Then  Sir  Palamides  turned  him,  and  either 
lashed  at  other  with  their  swords.  But  at  the  first  stroke 
Sir  Tristram  smote  down  Palamides,  and  gave  him  such  a 
stroke  upon  the  head  that  he  fell  to  the  earth.  So  then 
Tristram  bade  yield  him  and  do  his  commandment,  or  else 
he  would  slay  him.  And  when  Sir  Palamides  beheld  his 
countenance,  he  dread  sore  his  buffets,  so  that  he  granted 
him  all  his  asking. 

"Well,"  said  Sir  Tristram  unto  him,  "this  shall  be  your 
charge.  First,  upon  pain  of  your  life,  that  ye  forsake  my 
lady  la  Belle  Isolde,  and  in  no  manner  of  wise  that  ye 
draw  unto  her,  and  also  these  twelve  months  and  a  day 
that  ye  bear  none  armor  nor  in  like  wise  no  harness  of 
war.  Now  promise  me  this,  or  here  shalt  thou  die." 

"  Alas ! "  said  Sir  Palamides,  "  now  am  I  for  ever 
shamed." 

And  then  he  swore  as  Sir  Tristram  had  commanded 
him.  Then  for  great  despite  and  anger,  Sir  Palamides 
cut  off  his  harness  and  threw  it  away. 

And  then  Sir  Tristram  rode  privily  unto  the  postern 
where  la  Belle  Isolde  kept  him,  and  then  she  made  him 
good  cheer,  and  thanked  God  of  his  good  speed. 


1 62  The  Bofs  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER  XL 

HOW  THE  Ql/EEN  ESPIED  THAT  SlR  TRISTRAM  HAD  SLAIN  HER  BROTHER 
SIR  MARHAUS  BY  HIS  SWORD,  AND  IN  WHAT  JEOPARDY  HE  WAS. 

THUS  was  Sir  Tramtrist  long  there  well  cherished 
with  the  king  and  queen  and  namely  {likewise}  with 
la  Belle  Isolde.  So  upon  a  day  the  queen  and  la  Belle 
Isolde  made  a  bayne  \batk]  for  Sir  Tramtrist,  and  when  he 
was  in  his  bayne,  the  queen  and  her  daughter  la  Belle 
Isolde  roamed  up  and  down  in  the  chamber,  and  there 
whiles  Gouvernail  and  Hebes  attended  upon  Tramtrist, 
and  the  queen  beheld  his  sword  whereas  it  lay  upon  his 
bed.  And  then  by  unhap  the  queen  drew  out  his  sword 
and  beheld  it  a  long  while,  and  both  they  thought  it  a 
passing  fair  sword,  but  within  a  foot  and  an  half  of  the 
point  there  was  a  great  piece  broken  out  of  the  edge. 
And  when  the  queen  espied  that  gap  in  the  sword,  she 
remembered  of  a  piece  of  a  sword  that  was  found  in  the 
brain-pan  of  the  good  knight  Sir  Marhaus  that  was  her 
brother. 

"  Alas ! "  said  she  then  to  her  daughter  la  Belle  Isolde. 
"  This  is  the  same  traitorous  knight  that  slew  my  brother 
thine  uncle." 

When  la  Belle  Isolde  heard  her  say  so,  she  was  then 
passing  sore  abashed,  for  she  loved  Sir  Tramtrist  passingly 
well,  and  right  well  she  knew  the  cruelness  of  her  mother 
the  queen.  And  so  anon  therewith  the  queen  went  in  all 
the  haste  that  she  might  unto  her  own  chamber,  and  then 
she  sought  in  a  coffer  that  she  had,  and  there  she  found 
and  took  out  the  piece  of  the  sword  that  was  taken  out  of 
her  brother's  head  Sir  Marhaus,  after  that  he  was  dead 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  163 

And  then  anon  she  ran  with  the  same  piece  of  iron  unto 
Sir  Tramtrist's  sword  which  lay  upon  the  bed,  and  so  when 
she  put  the  same  piece  of  steel  and  iron  unto  the  same 
sword,  it  was  then  as  fit  as  ever  it  might  be  when  it  was 
first  new  broken.  And  so  forthwith  the  queen  caught  that 
sword  fiercely  in  her  hand,  and  with  all  her  might  she  ran 
straight  unto  Tramtrist  where  he  sat  in  a  bayne,  and  there 
she  had  run  him  through  had  not  Sir  Hebes  gotten  her  in 
his  arms  and  pulled  the  sword  from  her,  and  else  she  had 
thrust  him  through.  When  she  was  thus  letted  of  her 
evil  will,  she  ran  to  King  Anguish  her  husband,  and  fell 
on  her  knees  before  him,  saying,  "  Oh,  my  lord  and  hus- 
band, here  have  ye  in  your  house  that  traitor  knight  that 
slew  my  brother  and  your  servant,  that  noble  knight  Sir 
Marhaus." 

"  Who  is  that,"  said  King  Anguish,  "  and  where  is  he  ? " 

"  Sir,"  said  she,  "  it  is  Sir  Tramtrist,  the  same  knight 
that  my  daughter  hath  healed." 

"Alas!"  said  King  Anguish,  "therefore  am  I  right 
heavy,  for  he  is  a  full  noble  knight  as  ever  I  saw  in  field, 
but  I  charge  you,"  said  the  king  to  the  queen,  "that  ye 
have  not  to  do  with  this  knight,  but  let  me  deal  with 
him." 

Then  the  king  went  into  the  chamber  to  Sir  Tramtrist, 
that  then  was  gone  unto  his  chamber,  and  then  the  king 
found  him  all  armed,  ready  to  mount  upon  his  horse.  And 
when  the  king  saw  him  all  ready  armed  to  mount  on 
horseback,  the  king  said,  "Nay,  Tramtrist,  it  will  not 
avail  thee  to  compare  against  me.  But  thus  much  will  I 
do  for  my  worship,  and  for  thy  love  :  in  so  much  as  thou 
art  within  this  court,  it  were  no  worship  for  me  to  slay 
thee,  therefore  upon  this  condition  I  will  give  thee  leave 
to  depart  from  this  court  in  safety,  so  that  thou  wilt  tell 


1 64  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

me  who  is  thy  father,  and  what  is  thy  name,  and  if  thou 
slew  my  brother  Sir  Marhaus." 


CHAPTER  XII. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  DEPARTED  FROM  KING  ANGUISH  AND  LA  BELLI 
ISOLDE  our  OP  IRELAND  FOR  TO  COMB  INTO  CORNWALL. 

SIR,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "now  shall  I  tell  you  all  the 
truth ;  my  father's  name  is  Meliodas,  king  of  Lyonesse, 
and  my  mother  hight  Elizabeth,  that  was  sister  unto  King 
Mark  of  Cornwall,  and  my  mother  died  of  me  in  the 
forest,  and  because  thereof  she  commanded  or  she  died 
that  when  I  were  christened  that  they  should  name  me 
Tristram,  and  because  I  would  not  be  known  in  this 
country,  I  turned  my  name,  and  let  call  me  Tramtrist ; 
and  for  the  truage  of  Cornwall,  I  fought  for  mine  uncle's 
sake,  and  for  the  right  of  Cornwall  that  ye  had  possessed 
many  years.  And  wit  ye  well,"  said  Tristram  unto  the 
king,  "  I  did  the  battle  for  the  love  of  mine  uncle  King 
Mark,  and  for  the  love  of  the  country  of  Cornwall,  and 
for  to  increase  mine  honor.  For  that  same  day  that  I 
fought  with  Sir  Marhaus  I  was  made  knight,  and  never 
or  then  did  I  know  battle  with  no  knight,  and  from  me  he 
went  alive,  and  left  his  shield  and  his  sword  behind." 

"  Truly,"  said  the  king,  "  I  may  not  say  but  ye  did  as  a 
knight  should,  and  it  was  your  part  to  do  for  your  quarrel, 
and  to  increase  your  worship  as  a  knight  should ;  howbeit 
I  may  not  maintain  you  in  this  country  with  my  worship, 
unless  that  I  should  displease  my  barons,  and  my  wife, 
and  her  kin." 

"  Sir,"  said  Tristram,  "  I  thank  you  of  your  good  lorrl 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  165 

ship  that  I  have  had  with  you  here,  and  the  great  good- 
ness my  lady  your  daughter  hath  showed  me,  and  there- 
fore,'* said  Sir  Tristram,  "  it  may  so  happen  that  ye  shall 
win  more  by  my  life  than  by  my  death,  for  in  the  parts  of 
England  it  may  happen  I  may  do  you  service  at  some 
season  that  ye  shall  be  glad  that  ever  ye  showed  me  your 
good  lordship.  With  more  I  promise  you  as  I  am  true 
knight,  that  in  all  places  I  shall  be  my  lady  your  daugh- 
ter's servant  and  knight  in  right  and  in  wrong,  and  I  shall 
never  fail  her  to  do  as  much  as  a  knight  may  do.  Also  I 
beseech  your  good  grace  that  I  may  take  my  leave  at  my 
lady  your  daughter,  and  at  all  the  barons  and  knights." 

"  I  will  well,"  said  the  king. 

Then  Sir  Tristram  went  unto  la  Belle  Isolde,  and  took 
his  leave  of  her.  And  then  he  told  her  all,  what  he  was, 
and  how  he  had  changed  his  name  because  he  would  not 
be  known,  and  how  a  lady  told  him  that  he  should  never 
be  whole  till  he  came  into  this  country  where  the  poison 
was  made :  "  Wherethrough  I  was  near  my  death,  had  not 
your  ladyship  been." 

"Oh  gentle  knight,"  said  la  Belle  Isolde,  "full  woe  am 
I  of  thy  departing,  for  I  saw  never  man  that  I  owed  so 
good  will  to."  And  therewithal  she  wept  heartily. 

"  Madam,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  ye  shall  understand  that 
my  name  is  Sir  Tristram  de  Lyonesse,  and  I  promise  you 
faithfully  that  I  shall  be  all  the  days  of  my  life  your 
knight." 

"  Sir,  gramercy,"  said  la  Belle  Isolde,  "  and  there  again 
I  promise  you  that  I  shall  not  be  married  of  this  seven 
year  but  if  it  be  by  your  assent,  and  to  whom  ye  will  I 
shall  be  married,  him  shall  I  have,  if  he  will  have  me,  if 
ye  will  consent." 

And  then  Sir  Tristram  gave  her  a  ring,  and  she  gave 


1 66  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

him  another,  and  therewith  he  departed  from  her,  leaving 
her  making  full  great  moan  and  lamentation,  and  he  went 
straight  unto  the  court  among  all  the  barons,  and  there  he 
took  his  leave  of  most  and  least,  and  openly  among  them 
all  he  said :  "  Fair  lords,  now  it  is  so  that  I  must  depart 
from  hence,  if  there  be  any  man  here  that  I  have  offended 
unto,  or  that  any  man  be  with  me  grieved,  let  him  com- 
plain here  before  me  or  I  depart  from  hence,  and  I  shall 
amend  it  unto  my  power.  And  if  there  be  any  that  will 
proffer  me  wrong,  or  to  say  of  me  wrong  or  shame  behind 
my  back,  say  it  now  or  never,  and  here  is  my  body  to 
make  it  good,  body  against  body." 

And  all  they  stood  still,  there  was  not  one  that  would 
say  one  word,  yet  were  there  some  knights  which  were  of 
the  queen's  blood  and  of  Sir  Marhaus'  blood,  but  they 
would  not  meddle  with  him. 

So  Sir  Tristram  departed  and  took  the  sea,  and  with 
good  wind  he  arrived  up  at  Tintagil  in  Cornwall.  And 
when  King  Mark  was  whole  and  in  his  prosperity,  there 
came  tidings  that  Sir  Tristram  was  arrived  and  whole  of 
his  wound,  whereof  King  Mark  was  passing  glad,  and  so 
were  all  the  barons.  And  when  he  saw  his  time,  he  rode 
unto  his  father  King  Meliodas,  and  there  he  had  all  the 
cheer  that  the  king  and  the  queen  could  make  him.  And 
then  largely  King  Meliodas  and  his  queen  parted  of  their 
lands  and  goods  unto  Sir  Tristram.  So  then  by  the 
license  [leave]  of  King  Meliodas  his  father,  he  returned 
again  unto  the  court  of  King  Mark,  and  there  he  lived  in 
great  joy  long  time,  until  at  the  last  there  befell  a  jealousy 
and  an  unkindness  between  King  Mark  and  Sir  Tristram. 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  167 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

How  KING  MARK  SENT  SIR  TRISTRAM  FOR  LA  BELLE  ISOLDE  TOWAU 
IRELAND,  AND  HOW  BY  FORTUNE  HE  ARRIVED  INTO  ENGLAND. 

THEN  King  Mark  cast  always  in  his  heart  how  he 
might  destroy  Sir  Tristram.  And  then  he  imagined 
in  himself  to  send  Sir  Tristram  into  Ireland  for  la  Belle 
Isolde.  For  Sir  Tristram  had  so  praised  her  beauty  and 
her  goodness  that  King  Mark  said  he  would  wed  her, 
whereupon  he  prayed  Sir  Tristram  to  take  his  way  into 
Ireland  for  him  on  message.  And  all  this  was  done  to 
the  intent  to  slay  Sir  Tristram.  Notwithstanding,  Sir 
Tristram  would  not  refuse  the  message  for  no  danger  nor 
peril  that  might  fall  for  the  pleasure  of  his  uncle,  but  to 
go  he  made  him  ready  in  the  most  goodliest  wise  that 
might  be  devised.  So  Sir  Tristram  departed  and  took 
the  sea  with  all  his  fellowship.  And  anon  as  he  was  in 
the  broad  sea,  a  tempest  took  him  and  his  fellowship  and 
drove  them  back  into  the  coast  of  England,  and  there 
they  arrived  fast  by  Camelot,  and  full  fain  they  were  to 
take  the  land.  And  when  they  were  landed  Sir  Tristram 
set  up  his  pavilion  upon  the  land  of  Camelot,  and  there 
he  let  hang  his  shield  upon  the  pavilion. 


1 68  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

How  KING  ANGUISH  OF  IRELAND  WAS  SUMMONED  TO  COME  UNTO 
ARTHUR'S  COURT  FOR  TREASON. 

THEN  when  Sir  Tristram  was  in  his  rich  pavilion, 
Gouvernail  his  man  came  and  told  him  how  King 
Anguish  of  Ireland  was  come  there,  and  how  he  was  put 
in  great  distress ;  and  there  Gouvernail  told  to  Sir  Tris- 
tram how  King  Anguish  of  Ireland  was  summoned  and 
accused  of  murder. 

"So  God  me  help,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "these  be  the 
best  tidings  that  ever  came  to  me  this  seven  year,  for 
now  shall  the  King  of  Ireland  have  need  of  my  help,  for 
I  dare  say  there  is  no  knight  in  this  country  that  is  not 
of  King  Arthur's  court  dare  do  no  battle  with  Sir  Blamor 
de  Ganis ;  and  for  to  win  the  love  of  the  king  of  Ireland, 
I  shall  take  the  battle  upon  me ;  and  therefore,  Gouver- 
nail, I  charge  thee  to  bring  me  to  the  king." 

And  so  Gouvernail  went  unto  King  Anguish  of  Ireland, 
and  saluted  him  fair.  The  king  welcomed  him,  and  asked 
him  what  he  would. 

"Sir,"  said  Gouvernail,  "here  is  a  knight  near  hand 
which  desireth  to  speak  with  you ;  and  he  bade  me  say 
that  he  would  do  you  service." 

"What  knight  is  he ? "  said  the  king. 

"Sir,"  said  he,  "it  is  Sir  Tristram  de  Lyonesse,  that 
for  the  good  grace  that  ye  showed  unto  him  in  your  land, 
he  will  reward  you  in  this  country." 

"Come  on,  good  fellow,"  said  the  king,  "with  me,  and 
show  me  Sir  Tristram." 

So  the  king  took  a  little  hackney  and  a  little  company 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  169 

with  him,  until  he  came  unto  Sir  Tristram's  pavilion. 
And  when  Sir  Tristram  saw  King  Anguish,  he  ran  unto 
him,  and  would  have  holden  his  stirrup.  But  anon  the 
king  leapt  lightly  from  his  horse,  and  either  halsed 
[embraced]  other  in  their  arms. 

"  My  gracious  lord,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  gramercy  of 
your  great  goodness  that  ye  showed  to  me  in  your 
marches  and  lands.  And  at  that  time  I  promised  you  to 
do  you  service  and  ever  it  lay  in  my  power." 

"  Ah,  worshipful  knight,"  said  the  king  unto  Sir  Tris- 
tram, "  now  have  I  great  need  of  you ;  for  never  had  I 
so  great  need  of  no  knight's  help." 

"  How  so,  my  good  lord  ? "  said  Sir  Tristram. 

"  I  shall  tell  you,"  said  King  Anguish ;  "  I  am  sum- 
moned and  appealed  from  my  country  for  the  death  of  a 
knight  that  was  kin  unto  the  good  knight  Sir  Launcelot, 
wherefore  Sir  Blamor  de  Ganis,  brother  to  Sir  Bleoberis, 
hath  appealed  me  to  fight  with  him,  other  [or  else]  to  find 
a  knight  in  my  stead.  And  well  I  wot,"  said  the  king, 
"  these  that  are  come  of  King  Ban's  blood,  as  Sir  Launce- 
lot and  these  other,  are  passing  good  knights,  and  hard 
men  for  to  win  in  battle  as  any  that  I  know  now  liv- 
ing." 

"Sir,"  said  Sir  Tristam,  "for  the  good  lordship  ye 
showed  me  in  Ireland,  and  for  my  lady  your  daughter's 
sake,  la  Belle  Isolde,  I  will  take  the  battle  for  you  upon 
this  ccadition  that  ye  shall  grant  me  two  things  :  that  one 
is,  that  ye  shall  swear  to  me  that  ye  are  in  the  right,  that 
ye  were  never  consenting  to  the  knight's  death ;  sir, 
then,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "when  that  I  have  done  this 
battle,  if  God  give  me  grace  that  I  speed,  that  ye  shall 
give  me  a  reward,  what  thing  reasonable  that  1  will  ask 
of  you." 


170  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"Truly,"  said  the  king,  "ye  shall  have  whatsoever  yc 

ask." 
"It  is  well  said,"  said  Sir  Tristram. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  FOUGHT  FOR  SIR   ANGUISH,  AND  OVERCAME  HIS 
ADVERSARY,  AND  HOW  HIS  ADVERSARY  WOULD  NEVER  YIELD  HIM. 

THEN  were  the  lists  made  ready,  and  Sir  Tristram 
and  Sir  Blamor  de  Ganis,  in  the  presence  of  the 
kings,  judges,  and  knights,  feutered  [laid  in  rest]  their 
spears  and  came  together  as  it  had  been  thunder,  and 
there  Sir  Tristram  through  great  might  smote  down  Sir 
Blamor  and  his  horse  to  the  earth.  Then  anon  Sir 
Blamor  avoided  his  horse,  and  pulled  out  his  sword  and 
threw  his  shield  afore  him,  and  bade  Sir  Tristram  alight ; 
"for  though  an  horse  hath  failed  me,  I  trust  the  earth 
will  not  fail  me." 

And  then  Sir  Tristram  alighted  and  dressed  him  unto 
battle,  and  there  they  lashed  together  strongly  as  racing 
and  tracing,  foining  and  dashing  many  sad  strokes,  that 
the  kings  and  knights  had  great  wonder  that  they  might 
stand,  for  ever  they  fought  like  two  wild  men,  so  that 
there  were  never  knights  seen  fight  more  fiercely  than 
they  did ;  for  Sir  Blamor  was  so  hasty  that  he  would  have 
no  rest,  that  all  men  wondered  that  they  had  breath  to 
stand  on  their  feet;  all  the  place  was  bloody  that  they 
fought  in.  And  at  the  last  Sir  Tristram  smote  Sir  Blamor 
such  a  buffet  upon  the  helm  that  he  fell  down  upon  his 
side,  and  Sir  Tristram  stood  and  beheld  him. 

Then  when  Sir  Blamor  might  speak,  he  said  thus :  — 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  171 

"  Sir  Tristram  de  Lyonesse,  I  require  thee,  as  thou  art 
a  noble  knight,  and  the  best  knight  that  ever  I  found, 
that  thou  wilt  slay  me  out  of  hand  [straightway],  for  I  had 
liever  die  with  worship  than  live  with  shame,  and  needs, 
Sir  Tristram,  thou  must  slay  me,  or  else  thou  shalt  never 
win  the  field,  for  I  will  never  say  the  loth  word  \pf  sur- 
render] ;  and  therefore,  if  thou  dare  slay  me,  slay  me  I 
require  thee." 

And  when  Sir  Tristram  heard  him  say  so  knightly,  he 
wist  not  what  to  do  with  him.  And  then  Sir  Tristram 
started  aback  and  went  to  the  kings  which  were  judges ; 
and  there  he  kneeled  down  before  them,  and  besought 
them  for  their  worship,  and  for  King  Arthur  and  Sir 
Launcelot's  sake,  that  they  would  take  this  matter  in 
their  hands  : 

"For  fair  lords,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "it  were  shame  and 
pity  that  this  noble  knight  that  yonder  lieth  should  be 
slain,  for  ye  may  well  hear  that  shamed  he  will  not  be, 
and  I  pray  to  God  that  he  never  be  slain  nor  shamed  for 
me.  And  as  for  the  king  for  whom  I  do  this  battle,  I 
shall  require  him,  as  I  am  his  true  champion  and  true 
knight  in  this  field,  that  he  will  have  mercy  upon  this 
good  knight." 

"  So  God  me  help,"  said  King  Anguish  to  Sir  Tristram, 
"  I  will  be  ruled  for  your  sake  as  ye  will  have  me.  For  I 
know  you  for  my  true  knight,  and  therefore  I  will  heartily 
pray  the  kings  that  be  here  as  judges  for  to  take  it  into 
their  hands." 

And  then  the  kings  which  were  judges  called  Sir 
Bleoberis  unto  them  and  demanded  his  advice. 

"  My  lord,"  said  Sir  Bleoberis,  "  though  that  my  brother 
be  beaten  and  both  the  worse  through  might  of  arms,  I 
dare  well  say  though  Sir  Tristram  hath  beaten  his  body 


172  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

he  hath  not  beaten  his  heart;  I  thank  God  he  is  not 
shamed  this  day.  And  rather  than  he  should  be  shamed, 
I  require  you,"  said  Sir  Bleoberis,  "  let  Sir  Tristram  slay 
him  out  of  hand  [immediately]" 

"It  shall  not  be  so,"  said  the  kings,  "for  his  adverse 
party,  both  the  king  and  the  champion,  hath  pity  of  Sir 
Blamor's  knighthood." 

"My  lords,"  said  Sir  Bleoberis,  "I  will  right  well  as  ye 
will." 

Then  the  kings  called  to  them  the  king  of  Ireland,  and 
found  him  good  and  treatable  [willing  to  agree].  And 
then  by  all  their  advices  Sir  Tristram  and  Sir  Bleoberis 
took  up  Sir  Blamor.  And  the  two  brethren  were  ac- 
corded with  King  Anguish ;  and  kissed  each  other  and 
were  made  friends  for  ever.  And  then  Sir  Blamor  and 
Sir  Tristram  kissed  each  other,  and  then  the  two  brethren 
made  their  oaths  that  they  would  never  fight  with  Sir 
Tristram.  And  Sir  Tristram  made  the  same  oath.  And 
for  that  gentle  battle  all  the  blood  of  Sir  Launcelot  loved 
Sir  Tristram  for  ever  more.  Then  King  Anguish  and  Sir 
Tristram  took  their  leave  and  sailed  into  Ireland  with 
great  joy  and  nobleness.  So  when  they  were  in  Ireland, 
the  king  let  make  it  be  known  throughout  all  the  land 
how  and  in  what  manner  Sir  Tristram  had  done  for  him. 
And  then  the  queen  and  all  the  estates  that  were  there 
made  as  much  of  him  as  ever  they  might  make ;  but  the 
joy  that  la  Belle  Isolde  made  of  Sir  Tristram,  that  might 
no  tongue  tell,  for  of  men  living  she  loved  him  most. 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  173 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
How  SIR  TRISTRAM  DEMANDED  LA  BELLE  ISOLDE  FOR  KINO  MARK, 

AND  OF  THE  WEDDING  OF  KlNG  MARK    TO  LA   BELLE  ISOLDE. 

THEN  upon  a  day  King  Anguish  asked  Sir  Tristram 
why  he  asked  not  his  boon,  for  whatsoever  he  had 
promised  him  he  should  have  it  without  fail. 

"  Sir,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  now  is  it  time,  this  is  all  that 
I  will  desire,  that  ye  will  give  me  la  Belle  Isolde,  your 
daughter,  not  for  myself,  but  for  mine  uncle  King  Mark, 
that  shall  have  her  to  wife,  for  so  have  I  promised  him." 

"  Alas,"  said  the  king,  "  I  had  liever  than  all  the  land 
that  I  have  ye  would  wed  her  yourself." 

"  Sir,  and  I  did,  then  were  I  shamed  for  ever  in  this 
world,  and  false  of  my  promise.  Therefore,"  said  Sir 
Tristram,  "  I  pray  you  hold  your  promise  that  ye  promised 
me,  for  this  is  my  desire,  that  ye  will  give  me  la  Belle 
Isolde  to  go  with  me  into  Cornwall,  for  to  be  wedded  to 
King  Mark  mine  uncle." 

"As  for  that,"  said  King  Anguish,  "ye  shall  have  her 
with  you,  to  do  with  her  what  it  please  you,  that  is  for 
to  say  if  that  ye  list  to  wed  her  yourself,  that  is  to  me 
lievest ;  and  if  ye  will  give  her  unto  King  Mark  your 
uncle,  that  is  in  your  choice." 

So  to  make  a  short  conclusion,  la  Belle  Isolde  was 
made  ready  to  go  with  Sir  Tristram,  and  dame  Brag- 
uraine  went  with  her  for  her  chief  gentlewoman,  with 
many  other. 

And  anon  they  were  richly  wedded  with  great  noble- 
ness. But  ever  Sir  Tristram  and  la  Belle  Isolde  loved 
ever  together. 


174  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

Then  was  there  great  jousts  and  great  tourneying,  and 
many  lords  and  ladies  were  at  that  feast,  and  Sir  Tristram 
was  most  praised  of  all  other. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  DEPARTED  FROM  TINTAGIL,  AND  HOW  HE  SORROWED, 

AND  WAS  SO  LONG  IN  A  FOREST  TILL  HE  WAS  OUT  OF  HIS  MlND. 

r/np*HEN,  as  time  passed  by,  Sir  Tristram  grieved  sorely 
L  A  in  his  heart  that  la  Belle  Isolde  was  wedded  to 
King  Mark,  till  that  he  became  as  a  wood  man,  and 
mounted  his  horse  and  rode  forth  into  the  forest  away 
from  Tintagil.  So  Sir  Palamides  sent  a  damsel  to  inquire 
after  Sir  Tristram.] 

And  she  went  to  the  lady  of  [a  certain]  castle,  and  told 
her  of  the  misadventure  of  Sir  Tristram. 

"Alas,"  said  the  lady  of  that  castle,  "where  is  my  lord 
Sir  Tristram  ? " 

"  Right  here  by  your  castle,"  said  the  damsel. 

"  In  good  time,"  said  the  lady,  "  is  he  so  nigh  me :  he 
shall  have  meat  and  drink  of  the  best,  and  a  harp  I  have 
of  his  whereupon  he  taught  me,  —  for  of  goodly  harping 
he  beareth  the  prize  in  the  world." 

So  this  lady  and  the  damsel  brought  him  meat  and 
drink,  but  he  eat  little  thereof.  Then  upon  a  night  he 
put  his  horse  from  him,  and  then  he  unlaced  his  armor, 
and  then  Sir  Tristram  would  go  into  the  wilderness,  and 
burst  down  the  trees  and  boughs ;  and  otherwhile,  when 
he  found  the  harp  that  the  lady  sent  him,  then  would  he 
harp  and  play  thereupon  and  weep  together.  And  some- 
time when  Sir  Tristram  was  in  the  wood,  that  the  lady 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  175 

wist  not  where  he  was,  then  would  she  sit  her  down  and 
play  upon  that  harp ;  then  would  Sir  Tristram  come  to  that 
harp  and  hearken  thereto,  and  sometime  he  would  harp 
himself.  Thus  he  there  endured  a  quarter  of  a  year. 
Then  at  the  last  he  ran  his  way,  and  she  wist  not  where 
he  was  become.  And  then  was  he  naked,  and  waxed  lean 
and  poor  of  flesh,  and  so  he  fell  into  the  fellowship  of 
herdmen  and  shepherds,  and  daily  they  would  give  him 
of  their  meat  and  drink.  And  when  he  did  any  shrewd 
deed  they  would  beat  him  with  rods,  and  so  they  clipped 
him  with  shears  and  made  him  like  a  fool. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  SOUSED  DAGONET  IN  A  WELL,  AND  HOW  HE  SLKW  A 

GIANT. 

AND  upon  a  day  Sir  Dagonet,  King  Arthur's  fool,  came 
into  Cornwall,  with  two  squires  with  him,  and  as  they 
rode  through  the  forest  they  came  by  a  fair  well  where  Sir 
Tristram  was  wont  to  be,  and  the  weather  was  hot,  and 
they  alighted  to  drink  of  that  well,  and  in  the  meanwhile 
their  horses  brake  loose.  Right  so  Sir  Tristram  came  unto 
them,  and  first  he  soused  Sir  Dagonet  in  that  well,  and  after 
his  squires,  and  thereat  laughed  the  shepherds,  and  forth- 
withal  he  ran  after  their  horses,  and  brought  them  again 
one  by  one,  and  right  so,  wet  as  they  were,  he  made  them 
leap  up  and  ride  their  ways.  Thus  Sir  Tristram  endured 
here  an  half  year  naked,  and  would  never  come  in  town 
nor  village. 

And   there   was   a  giant   in   that   country   that   hight 
Tauleas,  and  for  fear  of  Sir  Tristram  more  than  seven 


176  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

years  he  durst  not  much  go  out  at  large,  but  for  the  most 
part  he  kept  him  in  a  sure  castle  of  his  own.  And  so  this 
Sir  Tauleas  heard  tell  that  Sir  Tristram  was  dead  by  the 
noise  of  the  court  of  King  Mark,  and  then  Sir  Tauleas 
went  daily  at  large.  And  so  it  happened  upon  a  day  he 
came  to  the  herdmen  wandering  and  lingering,  and  there 
he  set  him  down  to  rest  among  them.  The  meanwhile 
there  came  a  knight  of  Cornwall  that  led  a  lady  with  him, 
and  his  name  was  Sir  Dinant.  And  when  the  giant  saw 
him,  he  went  from  the  herdmen  and  hid  him  under  a  tree. 
And  so  the  knight  came  to  the  well,  and  there  he  alighted 
to  rest  him.  And  as  soon  as  he  was  from  his  horse,  the 
giant  Sir  Tauleas  came  between  the  knight  and  his  horse, 
and  leaped  upon  him.  So  forthwith  he  rode  unto  Sir 
Dinant,  and  took  him  by  the  collar,  and  drew  him  before 
him  on  his  horse,  and  there  would  have  stricken  off  his 
head.  Then  the  herdmen  said  unto  Sir  Tristram,  "  Help 
yonder  knight." 

"Help  ye  him,"  said  Sir  Tristram. 

"  We  dare  not,"  said  the  herdmen. 

Then  Sir  Tristram  was  ware  of  the  sword  of  the  knight 
where  it  lay,  and  thither  he  ran  and  took  up  the  sword, 
and  smote  off  Sir  Tauleas'  head,  and  so  went  his  wvr  to 
the  herdmen  again. 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  177 


CHAPTER  XIX, 

How  KINO  MARK  FOUND  SIR  TRISTRAM  NAKED,  AND  SCADS  HIM  TO  BI 
BORNE  HOME  TO  TlNTAGIL,  AND  HOW  HE  WAS  THERE  KNOWN  BY  A 
BRACKET. 

THEN  the  knight  took  up  the  giant's  head,  and  bare 
it  with  him  unto  King  Mark,  and  told  him  what 
adventure  betid  him  in  the  forest,  and  how  a  naked  man 
rescued  him  from  the  grimly  giant  Tauleas. 

"  Where  had  ye  this  adventure  ? "  said  King  Mark. 

"Forsooth,"  said  Sir  Dinant,  "at  the  fair  fountain  in 
your  forest,  where  many  adventurous  knights  meet,  and 
there  is  the  mad  man." 

"Well,"  said  King  Mark,  "I  will  see  that  mad  man." 

So  within  a  day  or  two  King  Mark  commanded  his 
knights  and  his  hunters  that  they  should  be  ready  on  the 
morrow  for  to  hunt.  And  on  the  morrow  he  went  unto 
the  forest.  And  when  the  king  came  to  the  well,  he 
found  there  lying  by  that  well  a  fair  naked  man,  and  a 
sword  by  him.  Then  the  king  blew  and  screked  [called 
shrilly\  and  therewith  his  knights  came  to  him.  And 
then  the  king  commanded  his  knights  to  take  that  naked 
man  with  fairness,  "and  bring  him  to  my  castle."  So 
they  did  softly  and  fair,  and  cast  mantles  upon  Sir  Tris- 
tram, and  so  led  him  unto  Tintagil ;  and  there  they  bathed 
him  and  washed  him,  and  gave  him  hot  suppings,  till  they 
had  brought  him  well  to  his  remembrance.  But  all  this 
while  there  was  no  creature  that  knew  Sir  Tristram,  nor 
what  man  he  was.  So  it  fell  upon  a  day  that  the  queen 
La  Belle  Isolde  heard  of  such  a  man  that  ran  naked  in 
the  forest,  and  how  the  king  had  brought  him  home  to 


175  ffie  tfoy's  King  Arthur. 

the  court.  Then  la  Belle  Isolde  called  unto  her  dame 
Bragwaine,  and  said,  "  Come  on  with  me,  for  we  will  go 
see  this  man  that  my  lord  brought  from  the  forest  the 
last  day." 

So  they  passed  forth,  and  asked  where  was  the  sick 
man.  And  then  a  squire  told  the  queen  that  he  was  in 
the  garden  taking  his  rest,  and  reposing  him  against  the 
sun.  So  when  the  queen  looked  upon  Sir  Tristram  she 
was  not  remembered  of  [did  not  remember}  him.  But 
ever  she  said  unto  dame  Bragwaine,  "Me  seemeth  I 
should  have  seen  him  heretofore  in  many  places." 

But  as  soon  as  Sir  Tristram  saw  her  he  knew  her  well 
enough,  and  then  he  turned  away  his  visage  and  wept. 
Then  the  queen  had  always  a  little  brachet  with  her,  that 
Sir  Tristram  gave  her  the  first  time  that  ever  she  came 
into  Cornwall,  and  never  would  that  brachet  depart  from 
her,  but  if  Sir  Tristram  was  nigh  there  as  was  la  Belle 
Isolde ;  and  this  brachet  was  sent  from  the  king's  daugh- 
ter of  France  unto  Sir  Tristram  for  great  love.  And 
anon  as  this  little  brachet  felt  a  savor  of  Sir  Tristram, 
she  leaped  upon  him,  and  licked  his  learis  {cheeks}  and  his 
ears,  and  then  she  whined  and  quested,  and  she  smelled 
at  his  feet  and  at  his  hands,  and  on  all  parts  of  his  body 
that  she  might  come  to. 

"Ah,  my  lady,"  said  dame  Bragwaine  unto  la  Belle 
Isolde,  "  alas,  alas ! "  said  she,  "  I  see  it  is  mine  own  lord 
Sir  Tristram." 

And  thereupon  Isolde  fell  down  in  a  sowne  \sivoon\  and 
so  lay  a  great  while ;  and  when  she  might  speak,  she  said  : 
"  My  lord  Sir  Tristram,  blessed  be  God  ye  have  your  life, 
and  now  I  am  sure  ye  shall  be  discovered  by  this  little 
bracnet,  for  she  will  never  leave  you  ;  and  also  I  am  sure 
that  as  soon  as  my  lord  King  Mark  shall  know  you,  he 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  179 

will  banish  you  out  of  the  country  of  Cornwall,  or  else  he 
will  destroy  you.  For  God's  sake,  mine  own  lord,  grant 
King  Mark  his  will,  and  then  draw  you  unto  the  court  of 
King  Arthur,  for  there  are  ye  beloved." 

Then  la  Belle  Isolde  departed,  but  the  brachet  would 
not  from  him.  And  therewith  came  King  Mark,  and  the 
brachet  set  upon  him,  and  bayed  at  them  all.  And  there- 
with Sir  Andret  spake  and  said:  "Sir,  this  is  Sir  Tris- 
tram, I  see  by  the  brachet." 

"  Nay,"  said  the  king,  "  I  cannot  suppose  that  it  is  he." 

So  the  king  asked  him  upon  his  faith  what  he  was,  and 
what  was  his  name. 

"  So  God  help,"  said  he,  "  my  name  is  Sir  Tristram  dc 
Lyonesse,  and  now  ye  may  do  with  me  what  ye  list." 

And  so,  by  the  advice  of  them  all,  Sir  Tristram  was 
banished  out  of  the  country  of  Cornwall  for  ten  year, 
and  thereupon  he  took  his  oath. 

And  then  were  many  barons  brought  him  into  his  ship. 
And  when  Sir  Tristram  was  in  the  ship,  he  said  thus : 
"  Greet  well  King  Mark  and  all  mine  enemies,  and  tell 
them  I  will  come  again  when  I  may.  And  well  I  am  re- 
warded for  the  righting  with  Sir  Marhaus,  and  delivering 
all  the  country  from  servage  [subjection].  And  well  I  am 
rewarded  for  the  fetching  and  costs  of  la  Belle  Isolde  out 
of  Ireland,  and  the  danger  that  I  was  in  first  and  last,  and 
by  the  way  coming  home  what  danger  I  had  to  bring 
again  Queen  Isolde  from  the  castle.  And  well  I  am  re- 
warded when  I  fought  with  Sir  Bleoberis  for  Sir  Seg- 
warides'  wife.  And  well  am  I  rewarded  when  I  fought 
with  Sir  Blamor  de  Ganis  for  King  Anguish,  father  unto 
la  Belle  Isolde.  And  well  am  I  rewarded  when  I  smote 
down  the  good  knight  Sir  Lamorake  de  Galis  at  King 
Mark's  request.  And  well  r\m  I  rewarded  when  I  fought 


i8o  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

with  the  king  with  the  hundred  knights,  and  the  king  ol 
Northgalis,  and  both  these  would  have  put  his  land  in 
servage,  and  by  me  they  were  put  to  a  rebuke.  And  well 
am  I  rewarded  for  the  slaying  of  Tauleas  the  mighty 
giant,  and  many  moe  deeds  have  I  done  for  him,  and  now 
have  I  my  guerdon.  And  tell  the  King  Mark  that  many 
noble  knights  of  the  Round  Table  have  spared  the  barons 
of  this  country  for  my  sake.  Also  I  am  not  well  rewarded 
when  I  fought  with  the  good  knight  Sir  Palamides,  and 
rescued  Queen  Isolde  from  him.  And  at  that  time  King 
Mark  said  before  all  his  barons  I  should  have  been  better 
warded."  And  therewith  he  took  the  sea. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  CAME  INTO  ENGLAND,  AND  JOUSTED  WITH  KING 
ARTHUR  AND  WITH  SIR  LAUNCELOT  so  WORTHILY  THAT  THE  PRIZE 
WAS  GIVEN  TO  HIM;  AND  HOW  KlNG  ARTHUR  MADE  HIM  KNIGHT 
OF  THE  ROUND  TABLE. 

aN  those  days  was  holden  a  great  tournament  at  the 
Castle  of  Maidens,  and  thereto  came  Sir  Tristram,  for 
King  Arthur  was  there,  with  his  knights,  and  a  goodly 
press  of  other  kings,  lords  and  ladies.  And  Sir  Tristram 
let  make  him  a  black  shield,  and  therewith  was  he  ever  to 
be  known  in  the  midst  of  the  knights.  And  Sir  Tristram 
overthrew  eleven  knights  of  Sir  Launcelot's  kin  in  one 
day,  and  jousted  with  King  Arthur  and  with  Sir  Launce- 
lot  in  such  wise  that  all  men  wondered.  And  at  the  last 
Sir  Tristram  was  sore  wounded,  and  rode  away  into  a 
forest.  But  Sir  Launcelot  held  away  the  stour  [figkf] 
like  as  a  man  enraged  that  took  no  heed  to  himself,] 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  181 

And  because  Sir  Launcelot  was  the  last  in  the  field  the 
prize  was  given  him.  But  Sir  Launcelot  would  neither 
for  king,  queen,  nor  knight  have  the  prize ;  but  when  the 
cry  was  cried  through  the  field,  "  Sir  Launcelot,  Sir 
Launcelot,  hath  won  the  field  this  day ! "  Sir  Launcelot 
let  make  another  cry  contrary  to  that  cry :  "  Sir  Tristram 
hath  won  the  field,  for  he  began  first,  and  last  he  hath 
endured,  and  so  hath  he  done  the  first  day,  the  second, 
and  the  third  day." 

[And  so  King  Arthur  and  Sir  Launcelot  and  more 
knights  rode  forth  for  to  find  Sir  Tristram.  And  after 
many  adventures  it  happened  that  Sir  Launcelot  passed 
by  the  tomb  of  Sir  Lanceor  (him  that  was  slain  by  Balin) 
and  his  lady  Colombe.  And  by  that  same  tomb  came  Sir 
Tristram :  and  neither  knew  the  other,  but  Sir  Tristram 
weened  it  to  have  been  Sir  Palamides.  Then  they  two 
fought,  and  each  wounded  other  wonderly  sore,  that  the 
blood  ran  out  upon  the  grass.  And  thus  they  fought  the 
space  of  four  hours.  And  at  the  last  either  knew  other. 
Then  cried  Sir  Launcelot,]  "Oh,  what  adventure  is  be- 
fallen me!" 

And  therewith  Sir  Launcelot  kneeled  down  and  yielded 
him  up  his  sword.  And  therewithal  Sir  Tristram  kneeled 
ad  own,  and  yielded  him  up  his  sword.  And  so  either 
&ave  other  the  degree.  And  then  they  both  forthwithal 
went  to  the  stone,  and  set  them  down  upon  it,  and  took 
off  their  helms  to  cool  them,  and  either  kissed  other  an 
hundred  times.  And  then  anon  after  they  took  their 
helms  and  rode  to  Camelot.  And  there  they  met  with  Sir 
Gawaine  and  with  Sir  Gaheris  that  had  made  promise  to 
Arthur  never  to  come  again  to  the  court  till  they  had 
brought  Sir  Tristram  with  them. 

Then  King  Arthur  took  Sir  Tristram  by  the  hand,  and 


1 82  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

led  him  unto  the  Round  Table.  Then  came  Queen  Gucn« 
ever,  and  many  ladies  with  her,  and  all  these  ladies  said, 
all  with  one  voice,  "  Welcome,  Sir  Tristram ; "  "  welcome," 
said  the  damsels;  "welcome,"  said  the  knights;  "wel- 
come," said  King  Arthur,  "for  one  of  the  best  knights 
and  gentlest  of  the  world,  and  knight  of  the  most  worship ; 
for  of  all  manner  of  hunting  thou  bearest  the  prize,  and 
of  all  measures  of  blowing  thou  art  the  beginner,  and  of 
all  the  terms  of  hunting  and  hawking  ye  are  the  be- 
ginner; of  all  instruments  of  music  ye  are  the  best. 
Therefore,  gentle  knight,"  said  King  Arthur,  "ye  are 
right  heartily  welcome  unto  this  court.  And  also  I  pray 
you,"  said  King  Arthur,  "  grant  me  a  boon." 

"  It  shall  be  at  your  commandment,"  said  Sir  Tristram. 

"Well,"  said  King  Arthur,  "I  will  desire  of  you  that 
ye  will  abide  in  my  court." 

"Sir,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "thereto  am  I  loth,  for  I  have 
to  do  in  many  countries." 

"Not  so,"  said  King  Arthur,  "ye  have  promised  it  me, 
ye  may  not  say  nay." 

"  Sir,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  I  will  as  ye  will." 

Then  went  King  Arthur  unto  the  sieges  about  the 
Round  Table,  and  looked  in  every  siege  which  were  void 
that  lacked  knights.  And  the  king  then  saw  in  the  siege 
of  Marhaus  letters  that  said  :  — 

"This  is  the  siege  of  the  noblest  knight  Sir  Tristram." 

And  then  King  Arthur  made  Sir  Tristram  knight  of 
the  Round  Table,  with  great  nobleness  and  great  feast  ai 
might  be  thought. 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  183 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

How  A  YOUNG  MAN  CAME  INTO  THE  COURT  OF  KINO  ARTHUR, 
HOW  SIR  KAY  CALLED  HIM  IN  SCORN,  LA  COTE  MAL  TAILK. 

THERE  came  into  the  court  of  King  Arthur  a  young 
man  and  a  big  made,  and  he  was  richly  beseen,  and 
he  desired  to  be  made  knight  of  King  Arthur;  but  his 
over-garment  sat  overthwartly,  howbeit  it  was  good  and 
rich  cloth  of  gold. 

"  What  is  your  name  ? "  said  King  Arthur. 

"Sir,"  said  the  young  man,  "my  name  is  Brewnor  le 
Noir,  and  within  short  space  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  come 
of  good  kin." 

"  It  may  well  be,"  said  Sir  Kay  the  seneschal,  "  but  in 
mockage,  ye  shall  be  called  la  Cote  Mai  Taile,  that  is 
as  much  to  say,  the  evil  shapen  coat." 

"  It  is  a  great  thing  that  thou  askest,"  said  the  king ; 
"  and  for  what  cause  wearest  thou  that  rich  coat  ?  tell  me, 
for  I  can  well  think  for  some  cause  it  is." 

"  Sir,"  said  he,  "  I  had  a  father  a  noble  knight,  and  upon 
a  day  as  he  rode  on  hunting,  it  happened  him  for  to  lay 
him  down  to  sleep.  And  there  came  a  knight  that  had 
been  long  his  enemy  ;  and  when  he  saw  he  was  fast  on 
sleep  he  all  to-hewed  him,  and  this  same  coat  had  my 
father  on  the  same  time,  and  that  maketh  this  coat  to  fit 
so  evil  upon  me,  for  the  strokes  be  on  it  as  I  found  it,  and 
never  shall  be  amended  for  me.  Thus,  to  have  my  father's 
death  in  remembrance,  I  wear  this  coat  till  I  be  revenged. 
And  because  ye  are  called  the  most  noble  king  of  the 
world,  I  came  to  you  that  ye  would  make  me  knight." 

"Sir,"  said  Sir  Lamorak  and  Sir  Gaheris,  'it  were  well 


1 84  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

done  to  make  him  knight,  for  him  beseemeth  well  of  person 
and  of  countenance  that  he  shall  prove  a  good  man,  and  a 
good  and  mighty  knight ;  for,  sir,  as  ye  be  remembered 
even  such  one  was  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  when  he  came 
first  into  this  court,  and  full  few  of  us  knew  from  whence 
he  came,  and  now  he  is  proved  the  most  man  of  worship 
that  is  in  the  world,  and  all  your  court  and  all  your  Round 
Table  is  by  Sir  Launcelot  worshipped  and  amended  more 
than  by  any  knight  now  living." 

"  That  is  truth,"  said  the  king,  "  and  to-morrow  at  your 
request  I  shall  make  him  knight." 

So  on  the  morrow  there  was  an  hart  found,  and  thither 
rode  King  Arthur  with  a  company  of  his  knights  to  slay 
the  hart.  And  this  young  man  that  Sir  Kay  named  la 
Cote  Mai  Taile  was  there  left  behind  with  Queen  Guen- 
ever,  and  by  sudden  adventure  there  was  an  horrible  lion 
kept  in  a  strong  tower  of  stone,  and  it  happened  that  he 
at  that  time  brake  loose  and  came  hurling  afore  the  queen 
and  her  knights.  And  when  the  queen  saw  the  lion,  she 
cried,  and  fled,  and  prayed  her  knights  to  rescue  her. 
And  there  was  none  of  them  all  but  twelve  that  abode, 
and  all  the  other  fled.  Then  said  la  Cote  Mai  Taile, 
"  Now  I  see  well  that  all  coward  knights  be  not  dead ; " 
and  therewithal  he  drew  his  sword  and  dressed  him  afore 
the  lion.  And  that  lion  gaped  wide,  and  came  upon  him 
ramping  to  have  slain  him.  And  he  then  smote  him  in 
the  midst  of  the  head  such  a  mighty  stroke  that  it  clave 
his  head  in  sunder,  and  dashed  to  the  earth.  Then  was  it 
told  the  queen  how  that  the  young  man  that  Sir  Kay 
named  by  scorn  la  Cote  Mai  Taile  had  slain  the  lion. 
With  that  the  king  came  home.  And  when  the  queen 
told  him  of  that  adventure  he  was  well  pleased,  and  said, 
"  Upon  pain  of  mine  head  he  shall  prove  a  noble  man,  and 
a  faithful  knight,  and  true  of  his  promise." 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  185 

Then  the  king  forthwithal  made  him  knight. 

"  Now,  sir,"  said  this  young  knight,  "  I  require  you  and 
all  the  knights  of  your  court,  that  ye  call  me  by  none 
other  name  but  la  Cote  Mai  Taile ;  insomuch  as  Sir  Kay 
so  hath  named  me,  so  will  I  be  called." 

"  I  assent  me  well  thereto,"  said  the  king. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 
How  A  DAMSEL  CAME  UNTO  THI  COURT  AND  DESIRED  A  KNIGHT  TO 

TAKE  ON  HIM  AN  INQUEST,  WHICH  LA  COTE  MAL  TAILE  KMPRISED. 

THEN  on  the  same  day  there  came  a  damsel  into  the 
king's  court,  and  she  brought  with  her  a  great 'black 
shield,  with  a  white  hand  in  the  midst  holding  a  sword ; 
other  picture  was  there  none  in  that  shield.  When  King 
Arthur  saw  her,  he  asked  her  from  whence  she  came,  and 
what  she  would  have  in  his  court. 

"  Sir,"  said  the  damsel,  "  I  have  ridden  long  and  many 
a  day  with  this  black  shield,  and  many  sundry  ways,  and 
for  this  cause  I  am  come  unto  your  court.  And  he  that 
ought  \pwned\  this  shield  was  a  right  good  knight,  and 
this  knight  had  undertaken  to  achieve  a  great  deed  of 
arms,  and  so  it  misfortuned  him  that  another  good  knight 
met  with  him  by  sudden  adventure,  and  there  they  fought 
long,  and  either  wounded  other  passing  sore,  and  they 
were  so  weary  that  they  left  that  battle  even  hand.  So 
this  knight  that  owned  this  shield  saw  none  other  way 
but  he  must  die ;  and  then  he  commanded  me  to  bear  this 
shield  to  the  court  of  King  Arthur,  he  requiring  and  pray- 
ing some  good  knight  to  take  this  shield,  and  that  he 
would  fulfil  the  quest  that  he  was  in." 


1 86  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"  Now  what  say  ye  to  this  quest  ? "  said  King  Arthur. 
"  Is  there  any  of  you  here  that  will  take  upon  him  to  wield 
this  shield  ? " 

Then  was  there  not  one  that  would  speak  one  word. 
Then  Sir  Kay  took  the  shield  in  his  hands. 

"  Sir  knight,"  said  the  damsel,  "  what  is  your  name  ? " 

"  Wit  ye  well,"  said  he,  "  my  name  is  Sir  Kay  the  senes- 
chal, that  widewhere  is  known." 

"  Sir,"  said  that  damsel,  "  lay  down  that  shield,  for  wit 
ye  well  it  falleth  not  for  you,  for  he  must  be  a  better 
knight  than  ye  that  shall  wield  this  shield." 

"  Damsel,"  said  Sir  Kay,  "  wit  ye  well  I  took  this  shield 
in  my  hands  by  your  leave  for  to  behold  it,  not  to  that 
intent,  but  go  wheresoever  thou  wilt,  for  I  will  not  go  with 
you." 

Then  the  damsel  stood  still  a  great  while,  and  beheld 
many  of  those  knights.  Then  spake  the  knight  la  Cote 
Mai  Taile,  — 

"  Fair  damsel,  I  will  take  the  shield  and  that  adventure 
upon  me,  so  I  wist  I  should  know  whitherward  my  journey 
might  be,  for  because  I  was  this  day  made  knight  I  would 
take  this  adventure  upon  me." 

"  What  is  your  name,  fair  young  man  ? "  said  the  dam- 
sel 

"My  name  is,"  said  he,  "la  Cote  Mai  Taile." 

"  Well  mayest  thou  be  called  so,"  said  the  damsel,  "  the 
knight  with  the  evil-shapen  coat,  but  and  thou  be  so  hardy 
to  take  upon  thee  to  bear  that  shield  and  to  follow  me,  wit 
thou  well  thy  skin  shall  be  as  well  hewn  as  thy  coat." 

"  As  for  that,"  said  la  Cote  Mai  Taile,  "  when  I  am  so 
hewn  I  will  ask  you  no  salve  to  heal  me  withal." 

And  forthwithal  there  came  into  the  court  two  squires, 
and  brought  him  great  horses  and  his  armor  and  his 
spears,  and  anon  he  was  armed,  and  took  his  leave. 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  187 

"  I  would  not,"  said  the  king,  "  that  ye  took  upon  you 
that  hard  adventure." 

"  Sir,"  said  he,  "  this  adventure  is  mine,  and  the  first 
that  ever  I  took  upon  me,  and  that  will  I  follow  whatso- 
ever come  of  me." 

Then  the  damsel  departed,  and  Sir  la  Cote  Mai  Taile 
followed  fast  after,  and  within  a  while  he  overtook  the 
damsel.  And  anon  she  missaid  him  in  the  foulest  man- 
ner. 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

How   SIR   LA    COTE   MAL   TAILE   OVERTHREW   SIR   DAGONET,    KINO 
ARTHUR'S  FOOL,  AND  OF  THE  REBUKE  THAT  HE  HAD  OF  THE  DAMSEL. 

AND  then  Sir  Kay  ordained  Sir  Dagonet,  King 
Arthur's  fool,  to  follow  after  Sir  la  Cote  Mai  Taile, 
and  so  there  Sir  Kay  in  all  haste  made  Sir  Dagonet  to  be 
armed  and  horsed,  and  bade  him  follow  Sir  la  Cote  Mai 
Taile  and  proffer  him  to  joust ;  and  so  he  did,  and  when  he 
saw  Sir  la  Cote  Mai  Taile,  he  cried  to  him,  and  bade  him 
make  ready  to  joust.  So  Sir  la  Cote  Mai  Taile  smote 
Sir  Dagonet  over  his  horse's  crupper.  Then  the  damsel 
mocked  Sir  la  Cote  Mai  Taile,  and  said,  — 

"  Fie  for  shame,  now  thou  art  shamed  in  King  Arthur's 
court,  when  they  send  a  fool  to  have  to  do  with  thee,  and 
specially  at  the  first  jousts." 

Thus  she  rode  long  chiding  him.  And  within  a  while 
there  came  Sir  Bleoberis  the  good  knight,  and  there  he 
jousted  with  Sir  la  Cote  Mai  Taile,  and  there  Sir  Bleo- 
beris smote  him  so  sore  that  horse  and  all  fell  to  the  earth. 
Then  Sir  la  Cote  Mai  Taile  arose  up  lightly  and  dressed 
his  shield  and  drew  his  sword,  and  would  have  done  the 
battle  to  the  uttermost,  for  he  was  wood  wroth. 


1 88  The  Boys  King  Arthur. 

"Not  so,"  said  Sir  Bleoberis,  "as  at  this  time  I  will  not 
fight  on  foot." 

Then  the  damsel  Maledisant  rebuked  him  in  the  foulest 
manner,  and  bade  him  "turn  again,  coward." 

"  Ah !  damsel,"  said  he,  "  I  pray  you  of  mercy  to  mis- 
say  me  no  more ;  my  grief  is  enough  though  ye  give  me 
no  more.  I  called  myself  never  the  worse  knight  when  a 
[horse]  failed  me,  and  also  I  count  me  never  the  worse 
knight  of  a  fall  of  Sir  Bleoberis." 

So  thus  he  rode  with  her  two  days,  and  by  fortune  there 
came  Sir  Palamides  and  encountered  with  him,  and  he  in 
the  same  wise  served  him  as  Sir  Bleoberis  had  done 
before. 

"What  doest  thou  here  in  my  fellowship?"  said  the 
damsel  Maledisant;  "thou  canst  not  sit  no  knight,  nor 
withstand  him  a  buffet,  but  if  it  were  Sir  Dagonet." 

"  Ah,  fair  damsel,  I  am  not  the  worse  to  take  a  fall  of 
Sir  Palamides,  and  yet  great  disworship  have  I  none,  for 
neither  Bleoberis  nor  yet  Palamides  would  not  fight  with 
me  on  foot." 

"As  for  that,"  said  the  damsel,  "wit  thou  well  they 
have  disdain  and  scorn  to  light  off  their  horses  to  fight 
with  such  a  mean  knight  as  thou  art." 

So  in  the  meanwhile  there  came  Sir  Mordred,  Sir 
Gawaine's  brother,  and  so  he  fell  in  the  fellowship  with 
the  damsel  Maledisant.  And  then  they  came  afore  the 
Castle  Orgulous,  and  there  was  such  a  custom  that  there 
might  no  knight  come  by  that  castle  but  either  he  must 
joust  or  be  prisoner,  or  at  the  least  to  lose  his  horse  and 
his  harness.  And  there  came  out  two  knights  against 
them,  and  Sir  Mordred  jousted  with  the  foremost,  and 
that  knight  of  the  castle  smote  Sir  Mordred  down  off  his 
horse.  And  then  anon  la  Cote  Mai  Taile  jousted  with 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  189 

that  other,  and  either  of  them  smote  other  down,  horse 
and  all  to  the  earth.  And  when  they  avoided  their  horses, 
then  either  of  them  took  other's  horses.  And  then  la 
Cote  Mai  Taile  rode  into  that  knight  that  smote  down 
Sir  Mordred,  and  jousted  with  him ;  and  there  Sir  la 
Cote  Mai  Taile  hurt  and  wounded  him  passing  sore,  and 
put  him  from  his  horse  as  he  had  been  dead.  So  he 
turned  unto  him  that  met  him  afore,  and  he  took  the 
flight  toward  the  castle,  and  Sir  la  Cote  Mai  Taile  rode 
after  him  into  the  Castle  Orgulous,  and  there  la  Cote 
Mai  Taile  slew  him. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 
How  LA  COTE  MAL  TAILS  FOUGHT  AGAINST  AN  HUNDRED  KNIGHTS, 

AND  HOW  HE  ESCAPED  BY  THE  MEAN  OF  A  LADY. 

AND  anon  there  came  an  hundred  knights  about  him 
and  assailed  him ;  and  when  he  saw  his  horse  should 
be  slain  he  alighted  and  voided  his  horse,  and  put  the 
bridle  under  his  feet,  and  so  put  him  out  of  the  gate. 
And  when  he  had  so  done,  he  hurled  in  among  them,  and 
dressed  his  back  unto  a  lady's  chamber-wall,  thinking 
himself  that  he  had  liever  die  there  with  worship  than  to 
abide  the  rebukes  of  the  damsel  Maledisant. 

And  in  the  mean  time  as  he  stood  and  fought,  that  iady 
whose  the  chamber  was  went  out  slyly  at  a  postern,  and 
without  the  gates  she  found  Sir  la  Cote  Mai  Taile's 
horse,  and  lightly  she  gat  him  by  the  bridle  and  tied  him 
to  the  postern.  And  then  she  went  unto  her  chamber 
slyly  again,  to  behold  how  that  one  knight  fought  against 
an  hundred  knights.  And  so  when  she  had  beholden  him 
long,  she  went  to  a  window  behind  his  back,  and  said,  — 


190  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"  Thou,  knight,  fightest  wondrous  well,  but  for  all  that 
at  the  last  thou  must  needs  die,  but  and  thou  canst 
through  thy  mighty  prowess  win  to  yonder  postern,  for 
there  have  I  fastened  thy  horse  for  to  abide  thee,  but  wit 
thou  well  thou  must  think  on  thy  worship  and  think  not 
to  die,  for  thou  mayst  not  win  unto  that  postern  without 
thou  do  nobly  and  mightily." 

When  Sir  la  Cote  Mai  Taile  heard  her  say  so,  he  took 
his  sword  and  put  his  shield  before  him,  and  hurled 
through  the  thickest  of  them.  And  when  he  came  to  the 
postern,  he  found  there  four  knights  ready,  and  at  two  of 
the  first  strokes  he  slew  two  of  the  knights,  and  the  other 
two  fled,  and  so  he  won  his  horse  and  rode  from  them. 
And  all  as  it  was,  it  was  rehearsed  in  King  Arthur's 
court  how  he  slew  twelve  knights  within  the  Castle  Orgu- 
lous, and  so  he  rode  on  his  way.  And  in  the  meanwhile 
the  damsel  said  unto  Sir  Mordred,  — 

"I  ween  my  foolish  knight  be  either  slain  or  taken 
prisoner." 

Then  were  they  ware  where  he  came  riding.  And 
when  he  was  come  unto  them,  he  told  them  how  he  had 
sped  and  escaped  in  despite  of  them  all,  "  and  some  of  the 
best  of  them  will  tell  no  tales." 

"Thou  liest  falsely,"  said  the  damsel,  "that  dare  I 
make  good,  but  as  a  fool  and  a  dastard  ^to  all  knighthood 
they  have  let  thee  pass." 

"  Ye  may  prove  it,"  said  Sir  la  Cote  Mai  Taile. 

With  that  she  sent  a  courier  of  hers,  that  rode  alway 
with  her,  for  to  know  the  truth  of  this  deed.  And  so  he 
rode  thither  lightly,  and  asked  how  and  in  what  manner 
that  Sir  la  Cote  Mai  Taile  was  escaped  out  of  the  castle. 
Then  all  the  knights  cursed  him  and  said  that  he  was 
fiend  and  no  man;  "for  he  hath  slain  here  twelve  of  our 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  191 

best  knights,  and  we  wend  unto  this  day  that  it  had  been 
too  much  for  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  or  for  Sir  Tristram 
de  Lyonesse.  And  in  despite  of  us  all  he  is  departed 
from  us,  and  maugre  our  heads." 

With  this  answer  the  courier  departed,  and  came  to 
Maledisant  his  lady,  and  told  her  all  how  Sir  la  Cote  Mai 
Taile  had  sped  at  the  Castle  Orgulous.  Then  she  smote 
down  her  head,  and  said  little. 

"By  my  head,"  said  Sir  Mordred  to  the  damsel,  "ye  are 
greatly  to  blame  so  to  rebuke  him,  for  I  warn  you  plainly 
he  is  a  good  knight,  and  I  doubt  not  but  he  shall  prove  a 
noble  knight,  but  as  yet  he  may  not  sit  sure  on  horseback : 
for  he  that  shall  be  a  good  horseman  it  must  come  of 
usage  and  exercise.  But  when  he  cometh  to  the  strokes 
of  his  sword  he  is  then  noble  and  mighty,  and  that  saw 
Sir  Bleoberis  and  Sir  Palamides,  for  wit  ye  well  they  are 
wily  men  of  arms,  and  anon  they  know  when  they  see  a 
young  knight  by  his  riding,  how  they  are  sure  to  give  him 
a  fall  from  his  horse  or  a  great  buffet.  But  for  the  most 
part  they  will  not  light  on  foot  with  young  knights,  for 
they  are  wight  \strong\  and  strongly  armed.  For  in  like- 
wise Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake  when  he  was  first  made 
knight  he  was  often  put  to  the  worse  upon  horseback,  but 
ever  upon  foot  he  recovered  his  renown,  and  slew  and 
defoiled  many  knights  of  the  Round  Table.  And  there- 
fore the  rebukes  that  Sir  Launcelot  did  to  many  knights 
causeth  them  that  be  men  of  prowess  to  beware,  for  often 
I  have  seen  the  old  proved  knights  rebuked  and  slain  by 
them  that  were  but  young  beginners." 

Thus  they  rode  sure  talking  by  the  way  together. 


192  The  Boy*s  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  CAME  TO  THE  COURT  AND  HEARD  OF  SIR  LA  Con 
MAL  TAILS,  AND  HOW  HE  FOLLOWED  AFTER  HIM,  AND  HOW  SIR  LA 
COTE  MAL  TAILE  WAS  PRISONER. 

AND  when  he  was  come  to  the  court  of  King  Arthur, 
then  he  heard  tell  of  the  young  knight  Sir  la  Cote 
Mai  Taile,  how  he  slew  the  lion,  and  also  how  he  took 
upon  him  the  adventure  of  the  black  shield,  the  which  was 
named  at  that  'time  the  hardiest  adventure  of  the  world. 
"  So  God  me  help,"  said  Sir  Launcelot  unto  many  of  his 
fellows,  "it  is  shame  to  all  you  noble  knights  to  suffer 
such  a  young  knight  to  take  such  an  adventure  upon  him 
for  his  destruction.  For  I  will  that  ye  wit,"  said  the  noble 
knight  Sir  Launcelot,  "  that  that  damsel  Maledisant  hath 
borne  that  shield  many  a  day  for  to  seek  the  most  proved 
knights,  and  that  was  she  that  Breuse  sans  Pitie  took  that 
shield  from  her.  And  after  Sir  Tristram  de  Lyonesse 
rescued  that  shield,  and  gave  it  to  her  again.  A  little  be- 
fore that  time  Sir  Tristram  fought  with  my  nephew  Sir 
Blamor  de  Galis,  for  a  quarrel  that  was  between  the  king 
of  Ireland  and  him." 

Then  many  knights  were  sorry  that  Sir  la  Cote  Mai 
Taile  was  gone  to  that  adventure. 

"Truly,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "I  cast  me  to  ride  after 
him." 

And  within  seven  days  Sir  Launcelot  overtook  Sir  la 
Cote  Mai  Taile,  and  then  he  saluted  him  and  the  damsel 
Maledisant.  And  when  Sir  Mordred  saw  Sir  Launcelot, 
he  left  their  fellowship.  And  so  Sir  Launcelot  rode  with 
them  all  the  day,  and  ever  the  damsel  Maledisant  rebuked 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  193 

Sir  la  Cote  Mai  Taile  full  uncourteously.  And  then  Sir 
Laimcelot  answered  for  him.  And  then  she  left  off  Sir 
la  Cote  Mai  Taile,  and  rebuked  Sir  Launcelot.  So  this 
meanwhile  Sir  Tristram  de  Lyonesse  sent  by  a  damsel  a 
lettej  unto  Sir  Launcelot,  in  excusing  him  of  the  wedding 
of  the  fair  damsel  Isolde  la  Blanche  Mains,  and  said  in 
the  letter  [that  he  had  never  been  husband  to  her]  and 
that  Sir  Launcelot  would  excuse  him  if  that  ever  he  saw 
her.  And  within  short  time  said  Sir  Tristram  that  he 
would  speak  with  la  Belle  Isolde  and  with  him  right 
hastily.  Then  Sir  Launcelot  departed  from  the  damsel 
and  from  Sir  la  Cote  Mai  Taile,  for  to  oversee  that  letter, 
and  for  to  write  another  letter  unto  Sir  Tristram  de  Lyon- 
esse. And  in  the  meanwhile  la  Cote  Mai  Taile  rode  with 
the  damsel  until  they  came  unto  a  castle  that  hight  Pen- 
dragon,  and  there  were  six  knights  stood  afore  him,  and 
one  of  them  proffered  to  joust  with  la  Cote  Mai  Taile. 
And  there  la  Cote  Mai  Taile  smote  him  over  his  horse's 
crupper.  And  then  the  five  knights  set  upon  him  all  at 
once  with  their  spears,  and  there  they  smote  la  Cote  Mai 
Taile  down,  horse  and  man,  and  then  they  alighted  sud- 
denly, and  set  their  hands  upon  him  all  at  once  and  took 
him  prisoner,  and  so  led  him  unto  the  castle  and  kept  him 
as  prisoner.  And  on  the  morn  Sir  Launcelot  arose  and 
delivered  the  damsel  with  letters  unto  Sir  Tristram,  and 
then  he  took  his  way  after  la  Cote  Mai  Taile,  and  by  the 
way  upon  a  bridge  there  was  a  knight  proffered  Sir 
Launcelot  to  joust,  and  Sir  Launcelot  smote  him  down, 
and  then  they  fought  upon  foot  a  noble  battle  together, 
and  a  mighty.  And  at  the  last  Sir  Launcelot  smote  him 
down  grovelling  upon  his  hands  and  his  knees ;  and  then 
that  knight  yielded  him,  and  Sir  I^aunceiot  received  him 
fair. 


194  ^^  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"  Sir,"  said  the  knight,  "  I  require  thee  tell  me  your 
name,  for  much  my  heart  giveth  unto  you." 

"  Nay,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  as  at  this  time  I  will  not 
tell  you  my  name,  unless  then  that  ye  tell  me  your  name." 

"Certainly,"  said  the  knight,  "my  name  is  Sir  Nero- 
veus,  that  was  made  knight  of  my  lord  Sir  Launcelot  du 
Lake." 

"Ah,  Neroveus  de  Lile,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "I  am 
right  glad  that  ye  are  proved  a  good  knight,  for  now  wit 
ye  well  my  name  is  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake." 

"  Alas,"  said  Neroveus  de  Lile,  "  what  have  I  done  ? " 

And  therewithal  flatling  he  fell  to  his  feet,  and  would 
have  kissed  them,  but  Sir  Launcelot  would  not  let  him. 
And  then  either  made  great  joy  of  other.  And  then  Sir 
Neroveus  told  Sir  Launcelot  that  he  should  not  go  to  the 
Castle  Pendragon,  "  and  there  is  a  lord,  a  mighty  knight, 
and  hath  many  knights  with  him  ;  and  this  night  I  heard 
say  that  they  took  yesterday  a  knight  prisoner  that  rode 
with  a  damsel,  and  they  say  he  is  a  knight  of  the  Round 
Table." 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  FOUGHT  WITH  six  KNIGHTS,  AND  AFTER  THAT  HI 

FOUGHT  WITH  SlR  BRIAN,  AND  HOW  HE  DELIVERED  ALL  THE  PRISON- 
ERS. 

IN  good  faith,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  that  knight  is  my 
fellow,  and  him  shall  I  rescue,  or  else  I  shall  leese 
[lose]  my  life  for  him."  And  therewith  he  rode  forth  until 
he  came  before  the  Castle  of  Pendragon,  and  anon  there 
came  six  knights,  ana  ail  made  them  ready  to  set  upon  Sir 
Launcelot  at  once.  Then  Sir  Launcelot  feutred  his  spear, 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  195 

and  smote  at  the  foremost  that  he  brake  his  back  in  sun- 
der, and  three  of  them  hit  and  three  failed.  And  then 
Sir  Launcelot  passed  through  them,  and  lightly  he  turned 
him  in  again,  and  smote  another  knight  throughout  the 
body  and  through  the  horse  more  than  an  ell,  and  there- 
with his  spear  brake.  So  then  all  the  remnant  of  the  four 
knights  drew  their  swords,  and  full  eagerly  they  lashed  at 
Sir  Launcelot,  and  at  every  stroke  that  Sir  Launcelot  be- 
stowed they  were  stricken  in  sundry  wise,  so  that  they 
avoided  their  saddles  sore  wounded.  And  forthwith  he 
rode  hurling  unto  the  castle.  And  anon  the  lord  of  the 
castle,  that  was  that  time  called  Sir  Brian  of  the  Isles, 
which  was  a  noble  man,  and  was  a  great  enemy  unto  King 
Arthur,  within  a  while  he  was  armed  and  on  horseback, 
and  then  they  feutred  their  spears  and  hurled  together  so 
strongly  that  both  their  horses  fell  to  the  earth.  And 
then  they  avoided  their  saddles  and  horses,  and  dressed 
their  shields,  and  drew  their  swords,  and  flung  together  as 
wood  men.  At  the  last  Sir  Launcelot  gave  to  Sir  Brian 
such  a  buffet  that  he  kneeled  upon  his  knees,  and  then  Sir 
Launcelot  rushed  upon  him,  and  with  great  force  he  pulled 
off  his  helm,  and  when  Sir  Brian  saw  that  he  should  be 
slain,  he  yielded  him,  and  put  him  in  his  mercy  and  in  his 
grace.  Then  Sir  Launcelot  made  him  to  deliver  all  his 
prisoners  that  he  had  within  his  castle,  and  therein  Sir 
Launcelot  found  of  Arthur's  knights  thirty,  and  forty 
ladies,  and  so  he  delivered  them  and  then  he  rode  his  way. 
And  anon  as  la  Cote  Mai  Taile  was  delivered  he  got  his 
horse  and  his  harness,  and  his  damsel  Maledisant.  The 
meanwhile  Sir  Neroveus,  that  Sir  Launcelot  had  fought 
withal  afore  at  the  bridge,  he  sent  a  damsel  after  Sir 
Launcelot  for  to  wit  how  he  sped  at  the  Castle  of  Pen- 
dragon.  And  then  they  within  the  castle  marvelled  what 


196  The  B<rfs  King  Arthur. 

knight  he  was  when  Sir  Brian  and  his  knights  delivered 
all  those  prisoners. 

"Have  ye  no  marvel,"  said  the  damsel,  "for  the  best 
knight  in  this  world  was  here,  and  did  this  tourney,  and 
wit  ye  well,"  she  said,  "it  was  Sir  Launcelot." 

Then  was  Sir  Brian  full  glad,  and  so  was  his  lady  and 
all  his  knights,  that  such  a  man  should  win  them.  And 
when  the  damsel  and  la  Cote  Mai  Taile  understood  that 
it  was  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake  that  had  ridden  with  them 
in  fellowship,  and  that  she  remembered  her  how  she  had 
rebuked  him  and  called  him  coward,  then  was  she  passing 
heavy. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  MET  WITH  THE  DAMSEL  NAMED  MALEDISANT,  AND 

HOW  HE  NAMED  HER  THE  DAMSEL  BlENPENSANT. 

SO  then  they  took  their  horses  and  rode  forth  apace 
after  Sir  Launcelot.  And  within  two  mile  they 
overtook  him,  and  saluted  him,  and  thanked  him,  and  the 
damsel  cried  Sir  Launcelot  mercy  of  her  evil  deed,  and 
saying,  "  For  now  I  know  the  flower  of  all  knighthood  is 
parted  even  between  Sir  Tristram  and  you.  For  I  have 
sought  you  my  lord  Sir  Launcelot,  and  Sir  Tristram,  long, 
and  now  I  thank  God  that  I  have  met  with  you ;  and  once 
at  Camelot  I  met  with  Sir  Tristram,  and  there  he  rescued 
this  black  shield  with  the  white  hands  holding  a  naked 
sword,  which  Sir  Breuse  sans  Pitie  had  taken  away  from 


"  Now,  fair  damsel,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  who  told  you 

f  name  ? " 

"  Sir,"  said  she,  "  there  came  a  damsel  from  a  knight 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  197 

that  ye  fought  withal  at  the  bridge,  and  she  told  me  your 
name  was  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake." 

"Blame  have  she  then,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "but  her 
lord  Sir  Neroveus  hath  told  her.  But,  damsel,"  said  Sir 
Launcelot,  "upon  this  covenant  I  will  ride  with  you,  so 
that  ye  will  not  rebuke  this  knight  Sir  la  Cote  Mai  Taile 
no  more ;  for  he  is  a  right  good  knight,  and  I  doubt  not 
but  that  he  will  prove  a  noble  knight,  and  for  his  sake 
and  pity  that  he  should  not  be  destroyed,  I  follow  him  for 
to  succor  him  in  his  great  need." 

"Ah!  Jesu  thank  you,"  said  the  damsel,  "for  now  I 
will  say  to  you  and  to  him  both,  I  rebuked  him  never  for 
no  hate  that  I  hated  him,  but  for  great  love  that  I  had 
unto  him,  for  ever  I  supposed  he  had  been  too  young  and 
tender  for  to  take  upon  him  these  adventures  ;  and  there- 
fore by  my  will  I  would  have  driven  him  away  for  the 
jealousy  that  I  had  of  his  life,  for  it  may  be  no  young 
knight's  deed  that  shall  achieve  this  adventure  to  the 
end." 

"  Pardy ! "  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  it  is  well  said,  whereas 
ye  are  called  the  damsel  Maledisant,  I  will  call  you  the 
damsel  Bienpensant." 

And  so  they  rode  forth  a  great  while  till  they  came  to 
the  borders  of  the  country  of  Surluse,  and  there  they 
found  a  full  fair  village  with  a  strong  bridge  like  a  for- 
tress. And  when  Sir  Launcelot  and  they  were  at  the 
bridge,  there  started  forth  before  them  many  gentlemen 
and  yeomen,  that  said,  — 

"  Fair  lords,  ye  may  not  pass  over  this  bridge  and  this 
fortress,  because  of  the  black  shield  that  I  see  one  of  you 
bear,  and  therefore  there  shall  not  pass  no  one  but  one  of 
you  at  once;  therefore  choose  which  of  you  shall  enter 
within  this  bridge  first." 


198  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  proffered  himself  first  to  enter. 

"  Sir,"  said  la  Cote  Mai  Taile,  "  I  beseech  you  let  me 
enter  first  within  this  fortress,  and  if  I  may  speed  well  I 
will  send  for  you,  and  if  it  happen  that  I  be  slain,  there  it 
goeth.  And  if  so  be  that  I  am  a  prisoner  taken,  then 
may  ye  rescue  me." 

"I  am  loth,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "to  let  you  pass  this 
passage." 

"  Sir,"  said  la  Cote  Mai  Taile,  "  I  pray  you  let  me  put 
my  body  in  this  adventure." 

"  Now  go  your  way,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  and  Jesu  be 
your  speed." 

So  he  entered,  and  anon  there  met  with  him  two  breth- 
ren, the  one  hight  Sir  Plein  de  Force,  and  the  other  hight 
Sir  Plein  d' Amour ;  and  anon  they  met  with  Sir  la  Cote 
Mai  Taile,  and  first  la  Cote  Mai  Taile  smote  down  Sir 
Plein  de  Force,  and  soon  after  he  smote  down  Plein 
d'Amour;  and  then  they  dressed  them  to  their  shields 
and  swords,  and  bade  la  Cote  Mai  Taile  alight,  and  so  he 
did,  and  there  was  dashing  and  foining  with  swords,  and 
so  they  began  to  assail  full  hard  la  Cote  Mai  Taile,  and 
many  great  wounds  they  gave  him  upon  his  head  and  upon 
his  breast  and  upon  his  shoulders.  And  as  he  might  ever 
among  he  gave  sad  strokes  again.  And  then  the  two 
brethren  traced  and  traversed  for  to  be  of  both  hands  [on 
both  sides}  of  Sir  la  Cote  Mai  Taile,  but  he  by  fine  force 
and  knightly  prowess  gat  them  afore  him.  And  then 
when  he  felt  himself  so  wounded  then  he  doubled  his 
strokes  and  gave  them  so  many  wounds  that  he  felled 
them  to  the  earth,  and  would  have  slain  them  had  they 
not  yielded  them.  And  right  so  Sir  la  Cote  Mai  Taile 
took  the  best  horse  that  there  was  of  them  three,  and  so 
rode  forth  his  way  to  the  other  fortress  and  bridge,  and 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  199 

there  he  met  with  the  third  brother,  whose  name  was 
Sir  Plenorius,  a  full  noble  knight ;  and  there  they  jousted 
together,  and  either  smote  other  down  horse  and  man  to 
the  earth.  And  then  they  two  avoided  their  horses,  and 
dressed  their  shields,  and  drew  their  swords,  and  gave 
many  sad  strokes ;  and  one  while  the  one  knight  was 
afore  on  the  bridge,  and  another  while  the  other.  And 
thus  they  fought  two  hours  and  more,  and  never  rested, 
and  ever  Sir  Launcelot  and  the  damsel  beheld  them. 

"Alas!"  said  the  damsel,  "my  knight  fighteth  passing 
sore  and  over  long." 

"  Now  may  ye  see,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  that  he  is  a 
noble  knight,  for  to  consider  his  first  battle  and  his 
grievous  wounds,  and  so  wounded  as  he  is,  it  is  great 
marvel  that  he  may  endure  this  long  battle  with  that 
good  knight." 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

How  LA  COTE  MAL  TAILE  WAS  TAKEN  PRISONER,  AND  AFTER  RESCUED 
BY  SIR  LAUNCELOT,  AND  HOW  SIR  LAUNCELOT  OVERCAME  FOUR 
BRETHREN. 

THIS  meanwhile  Sir  la  Cote  Mai  Taile  sunk  down 
upon  the  earth,  for,  what  for  wounds  and  what  for 
blood,  he  might  not  stand.  Then  the  other  knight  had 
pity  of  him,  and  said,  — 

"  Fair  young  knight,  dismay  you  not,  for  if  ye  had  been 
fresh  when  ye  met  with  me  as  I  was,  I  know  well  I  should 
not  have  endured  so  long  as  ye  have  done ;  and  therefore, 
for  your  noble  deeds  and  valiantness,  I  shall  show  you 
great  kindness  and  gentleness  in  all  that  ever  I  may." 

And  forthwith  the  noble  knight  Sir  Plenorius  took  him 


2OO  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

up  in  his  arms  and  led  him  into  his  tower.  And  then  he 
commanded  him  the  wine,  and  made  for  to  search  him 
and  for  to  stop  his  bleeding  wounds. 

"Sir,"  said  la  Cote  Mai  Taile,  "withdraw  you  from 
me,  and  hie  you  to  yonder  bridge  again,  for  there  will 
meet  you  another  manner  knight  than  ever  I  was." 

"Why,"  said  Sir  Plenorius,  "is  here  another  mannef 
knight  behind  of  your  fellowship  ? " 

"  Yea,  truly,"  said  la  Cote  Mai  Taile,  "  there  is  a  much 
better  knight  than  I  am." 

"  What  is  his  name  ? "  said   Sir  Plenorius. 

"  You  shall  not  know  for  me,"  said  la  Cote  Mai  Taile. 

"Well,"  said  the  knight,  "he  shall  be  encountered 
withal,  whatsoever  he  be." 

Then  Sir  Plenorius  heard  a  knight  call  that  said,  "  Sir 
Plenorius,  where  art  thou  ?  either  thou  must  deliver  me 
the  prisoner  that  thou  hast  led  unto  thy  tower,  or  else 
come  and  do  battle  with  me." 

Then  Sir  Plenorius  gat  his  horse,  and  came  with  a  spear 
in  his  hand,  galloping  towards  Sir  Launcelot,  and  then 
they  began  to  feutre  their  spears,  and  came  together  as 
thunder,  and  smote  either  other  so  mightily  that  their 
horses  fell  down  under  them.  And  then  they  avoided 
their  horses,  and  pulled  out  their  swords,  and  like  two 
bulls  they  lashed  together  with  great  strokes  and  foins, 
but  ever  Sir  Launcelot  recovered  ground  upon  him,  and 
Sir  Plenorius  traced  to  have  gone  about  him.  But  Sir 
Launcelot  would  not  suffer  that,  but  bare  him  backer  and 
backer  till  he  came  nigh  his  tower  gate.  And  then  said 
Sir  Launcelot,  "  I  know  thee  well  for  a  good  knight,  but 
wit  thou  well  thy  life  and  death  is  in  my  hand,  and  there- 
fore yield  thee  to  me,  and  thy  prisoner." 

The  othsr  answered  no  word,  but  strake  mightily  upon 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  201 

Sir  Launcelot's  helm,  that  fire  sprang  out  of  his  eyes ; 
then  Sir  Launcelot  doubled  his  strokes  so  thick,  and  smote 
at  him  so  mightily,  that  he  made  him  kneel  upon  his 
knees,  and  therewith  Sir  Launcelot  leaped  upon  him  and 
pulled  him  grovelling  down.  Then  Sir  Plenorius  yielded 
him,  and  his  tower,  and  all  his  prisoners,  at  his  will.  And 
then  Sir  Launcelot  received  him  and  took  his  troth,  and 
then  he  rode  to  the  other  bridge,  and  there  Sir  Launcelot 
jousted  with  other  three  of  his  brethren,  the  one  hight 
Pillounes,  and  the  other  hight  Pellogris,  and  the  third 
Sir  Pellandris.  And  first  upon  horseback  Sir  Launcelot 
smote  them  down,  and  afterward  he  beat  them  on  foot, 
and  made  them  to  yield  them  unto  him,  and  then  he 
returned  unto  Sir  Plenorius,  and  there  he  found  in  his 
prison  King  Carados  of  Scotland  and  many  other  knights, 
and  all  they  were  delivered.  And  then  Sir  la  Cote  Mai 
Taile  came  to  Sir  Launcelot,  and  then  Sir  Launcelot  would 
have  given  him  all  these  fortresses  and  these  bridges. 

"  Nay,"  said  la  Cote  Mai  Taile,  "  I  will  not  have  Sir 
Plenorius'  livelihood  :  with  that  [provided  that]  he  will 
grant  you,  my  lord  Sir  Launcelot,  to  come  unto  King 
Arthur's  court,  and  to  be  his  knight,  and  all  his  brethren, 
I  will  pray  you,  my  lord,  to  let  him  have  his  livelihood." 

"I  will  well,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "with  this  that  he 
will  come  to  the  court  of  King  Arthur,  and  become  his 
man,  and  his  brethren  five.  And  as  for  you,  Sir  Plenorius, 
I  will  undertake,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  at  the  next  feast, 
so  there  be  a  place  voided,  that  ye  shall  be  knight  of  the 
Round  Table." 

"  Sir,"  said  Sir  Plenorius,  "  at  the  next  feast  of  Pente- 
cost I  will  be  at  Arthur's  court,  and  at  that  time  I  will  be 
guided  and  ruled  as  King  Arthur  and  ye  will  have  me." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  la  Cote  Mai  Taile  reposed 


202  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

them  there  unto  the  time  that  Sir  la  Cote  Mai  Taile  was 
whole  of  his  wounds,  and  there  they  had  merry  cheer,  and 
good  rest,  and  many  games,  and  there  were  many  fair 
ladies. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  MADE  LA  COTE  MAL  TAILE  LORD  OF  THE  CASTLE 
OF  PENDRAGON,  AND  AFTER  HK  WAS  MADE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  ROUND 
TABLE. 

AND  in  the  mean  while  there  came  Sir  Kay  the 
seneschal,  and  Sir  Brandiles,  and  anon  they  fellow- 
shipped  with  them.  And  then  within  ten  days  departed 
those  knights  of  King  Arthur's  court  from  these  for- 
tresses. And  as  Sir  Launcelot  came  by  the  Castle  of 
Pendragon,  there  he  put  Sir  Brian  of  the  Isles  from  his 
lands,  because  he  would  never  be  [agreed]  with  King 
Arthur,  and  all  that  Castle  of  Pendragon,  and  all  the  lands 
thereof,  he  gave  to  Sir  la  Cote  Mai  Taile.  And  then 
Sir  Launcelot  sent  for  Sir  Neroveus,  that  he  made  once 
knight,  and  he  made  him  to  have  all  the  rule  of  that  castle 
and  of  that  country  under  la  Cote  Mai  Taile.  And  so 
they  rode  to  Arthur's  court  all  wholly  together.  And  at 
Pentecost  next  following  there  was  Sir  Plenorius,  and  Sir 
la  Cote  Mai  Taile,  called  otherwise  by  right  Sir  Brewnor 
le  Noir,  both  made  knights  of  the  Table  Round,  and  great 
lands  King  Arthur  gave  them ;  and  there  Brewnor  le 
Noir  wedded  that  damsel  Maledisant.  And  after  she 
was  called  Beauvivant ;  but  ever  after  for  the  more  part 
he  was  called  la  Cote  Mai  Taile,  and  he  proved  a  passing 
noble  knight  and  mighty,  and  many  worshipful  deeds  he 
did  after  in  his  life,  and  Sir  Plenorius  proved  a  noble 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  203 

knight  and  full  of  prowess.  And  all  the  days  of  their 
life  for  the  most  part  they  awaited  upon  Sir  LaunceloL 
And  Sir  Plenorius'  brethren  were  ever  knights  of  King 
Arthur.  And  also  as  the  French  book  maketh  mention, 
Sir  la  Cote  Mai  Taile  avenged  his  father's  death. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

How,  FOR  THE  DESPITE  OF  SIR  TRISTRAM,  KING  MARK  CAME  WITH 
Two  KNIGHTS  INTO  ENGLAND,  AND  HOW  DAGONET,  KING  ARTHUR'S 
FOOL,  PUT  HIM  TO  FLIGHT. 


King  Mark  had  great  despite  of  the  renown  of 
JL  Sir  Tristram.  So  he  sent  on  his  part  men  ,  to  espy 
what  deeds  he  did.  And  when  the  messengers  were  come 
home,  they  told  the  truth  as  they  heard,  that  he  passed  all 
other  knights  but  if  it  were  the  noble  knight  Sir  Launce- 
lot.  Then  in  great  despite  he  took  with  him  two  good 
knights  and  two  squires,  and  disguised  himself,  and  took 
his  way  into  England,  to  the  intent  to  slay  him. 

[And  it  happened  that  Sir  Dinadan  met  King  Mark,  and 
began  to  mock  him  for  a  Cornish  knight  of  no  worship. 
And]  right  as  they  stood  thus  talking  together,  they  saw 
come  riding  to  them  over  a  plain  six  knights  of  the  court 
of  King  Arthur,  well  armed  at  all  points.  And  there  by 
their  shields  Sir  Dinadan  knew  them  well.  The  first  was 
the  good  knight  Sir  Uwaine,  the  son  of  King  Uriens  ;  the 
second  was  the  noble  knight  Sir  Brandiles  ;  the  third  was 
Ozana  le  Cure  Hardy  ;  the  fourth  was  Uwaine  les  Adven- 
turous ;  the  fifth  was  Sir  Agravaine  ;  the  sixth  Sir  Mor- 
dred,  brother  to  Sir  Gawaine.  When  Sir  Dinadan  had 
seen  these  six  knights,  he  thought  in  himself  he  would 


204  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

bring  King  Mark  by  some  wile  to  joust  with  one  of 
them. 

"Lo,"  said  Sir  Dinadan,  "yonder  are  knights  errant 
that  will  joust  with  us." 

"God  forbid,"  said  King  Mark,  "for  they  be  six,  and 
*re  but  two." 

"  As  for  that,"  said  Sir  Dinadan,  "  let  us  not  spare,  for  I 
will  assay  the  foremost." 

And  therewith  he  made  him  ready.  When  King  Mark 
saw  him  do  so,  as  fast  as  Sir  Dinadan  rode  toward  them 
King  Mark  rode  from  them  with  all  his  menial  company. 
So  when  Sir  Dinadan  saw  King  Mark  was  gone,  he  set 
the  spear  out  of  the  rest,  and  threw  his  shield  upon  his 
back,  and  came  riding  to  the  fellowship  of  the  Table 
Round.  And  anon  Sir  Uwaine  knew  Sir  Dinadan,  and 
welcomed  him,  and  so  did  all  his  fellowship. 

"What  knight  is  that,"  said  Sir  Brandiles,  "that  so 
suddenly  departed  from  you,  and  rode  over  yonder  field  ? " 

"Sir,"  said  he,  "it  was  a  knight  of  Cornwall,  and  the 
most  horrible  coward  that  ever  bestrode  horse." 

"  What  is  his  name  ? "  said  all  the  knights. 

"  I  wot  not,"  said  Sir  Dinadan. 

Said  Sir  Griflet,  "Here  have  I  brought  Sir  Dagonet, 
King  Arthur's  fool,  that  is  the  best  fellow  and  the  merri 
est  in  the  world." 

[Then  said  Sir  Mordred,]  "  Put  my  shield  and  my  har- 
ness upon  Sir  Dagonet,  and  let  him  set  upon  the  Cornish 
knight." 

"  That  shall  be  done,"  said  Sir  Dagonet,  "by  my  faith." 

Then  anon  was  Dagonet  armed  in  Mordred's  harness 
and  his  shield,  and  he  was  set  on  a  great  horse  and  a  spear 
in  his  hand. 

"Now,"  said  Dagonet,  "show  me  the  knight,  and  I 
trow  I  shall  bear  him  down." 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  205 

So  all  these  knights  rode  to  a  woodside,  and  abode  till 
King  Mark  came  by  the  way.  Then  they  put  forth  Sir 
Dagonet,  and  he  came  on  all  the  while  his  horse  might 
run,  straight  upon  King  Mark.  And  when  he  came  nigh 
King  Mark,  he  cried  as  he  were  wood,  and  said,  "  Keep 
thee,  knight  of  Cornwall,  for  I  will  slay  thee." 

Anon  as  King  Mark  beheld  his  shield  he  said  to  him- 
self, "  Yonder  is  Sir  Launcelot :  alas,  now  am  I  destroyed." 

And  therewithal  he  made  his  horse  to  run  as  fast  as  it 
might  through  thick  and  thin.  And  ever  Sir  Dagonet 
followed  King  Mark  crying  and  rating  him  as  a  wood  man 
through  a  great  forest.  When  Sir  Uwaine  and  Sir  Bran- 
diles  saw  Dagonet  so  chase  King  Mark,  they  laughed  all 
as  they  were  wood.  And  then  they  took  their  horses  and 
rode  after  to  see  how  Sir  Dagonet  sped.  For  they  would 
not  for  no  good  that  Sir  Dagonet  were  hurt,  for  King 
Arthur  loved  him  passing  well,  and  made  him  knight  with 
his  own  hands. 

When  Sir  Uwaine  and  Sir  Brandiles  with  his  fellows 
came  to  the  court  of  King  Arthur,  they  told  the  king, 
Sir  Launcelot,  and  Sir  Tristram  how  Sir  Dagonet  the 
fool  chased  King  Mark  through  the  forest.  There  was 
great  laughing  and  jesting  at  King  Mark  and  at  Sir 
Dagonet. 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

How  KING  ARTHUR  MADE  KING  MARK  TO  BE  ACCORDED  WITH   Si» 
TRISTRAM,  AND  HOW  THEY  DEPARTED  TOWARD  CORNWALL. 

KING  Arthur  on  a  day  said  unto  King  Mark,  — 
"  Sir,  I  pray  you  to  give  me  a  gift  that  I  shall  ask 
you." 


2o6  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"  Sir,"  said  King  Mark,  "  I  will  give  you  whatsoever  ye 
desire,  and  it  be  in  my  power." 

"Sir,  gramercy,"  said  King  Arthur,  "this  I  will  ask 
you,  that  ye  be  a  good  lord  unto  Sir  Tristram,  for  he  is  a 
man  of  great  honor ;  and  that  ye  will  take  him  with  you 
into  Cornwall,  and  let  him  see  his  friends,  and  there 
cherish  him  for  my  sake." 

"  Sir,"  said  King  Mark,  "  I  promise  you  by  the  faith  of 
my  body,  and  by  the  faith  I  owe  to  God  and  to  you,  I 
shall  worship  him  for  your  sake  in  all  that  I  can  or  may." 

"  Sir,"  said  Arthur,  "  and  I  will  forgive  you  all  the  evil 
will  that  ever  I  owed  you,  and  so  be  that  ye  swear  that 
upon  a  book  afore  me." 

"  With  a  good  will,"  said  King  Mark. 

And  so  he  there  sware  upon  a  book  afore  him  and  all 
his  knights,  and  therewith  King  Mark  and  Sir  Tristram 
took  either  other  by  the  hands  hard  knit  together.  But 
for  all  this  King  Mark  thought  falsely,  as  it  proved  after, 
for  he  put  Sir  Tristram  in  prison,  and  cowardly  would 
have  slain  him.  Then  soon  after  King  Mark  took  his 
leave  to  ride  into  Cornwall,  and  Sir  Tristram  made  him 
ready  to  ride  with  him,  wherefore  the  most  part  of  the 
Round  Table  were  wroth  and  heavy ;  and  in  especial  Sir 
Launcelot,  and  Sir  Lamorak,  and  Sir  Dinadan  were  wroth 
out  of  measure.  For  well  they  wist  King  Mark  would 
slay  or  destroy  Sir  Tristram. 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  207 


CHAPTER   XXXII. 
How  AT  A  GREAT  FEAST  THAT  KING  MARK  MADE,  AN  HARPER  CAM* 

AND  SANG  THE  LAY  THAT  DlNADAN  HAD  MADE. 


there  came  a  host  of  Sessoines  [Saxons}  into 
King  Mark's  country  and  made  war  upon  him  that 
he  was  fain  to  pray  Sir  Tristram  to  take  his  part.  And 
Sir  Tristram  took  his  part  and  led  a  great  battle  against 
the  Sessoines  and  overcame  their  battle  and  slew  Elias 
their  captain.] 

And  at  the  great  feast  that  King  Mark  made  for  joy 
that  the  Sessoins  were  put  out  of  his  country,  then  came 
Eliot  the  harper,  with  the  lay  [song}  that  Dinadan  had 
made,  and  secretly  brought  it  unto  Sir  Tristram,  and  told 
him  the  lay  that  Dinadan  had  made  by  King  Mark.  And 
when  Sir  Tristram  heard  it,  he  said  :  — 

"  That  Dinadan  can  make  wonderly  well  and  ill,  there 
as  it  shall  be." 

"Sir,"  said  Eliot,  "dare  I  sing  this  song  afore  King 
Mark?" 

"Yea,  on  my  peril,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "for  I  shall  be 
^hy  warrant." 

Then  at  the  meat  came  in  Eliot  the  harper,  and  because 
he  was  a  curious  harper  men  heard  him  sing  the  same 
lay  that  Dinadan  had  made,  the  which  spake  the  most 
villany  by  King  Mark  of  his  treason  that  ever  man  heard. 
When  the  harper  had  sung  his  song  to  the  end,  King 
Mark  was  wonderly  wroth,  and  said,  — 

"  Thou  harper,  how  durst  thou  be  so  bold  on  thy  head 
to  sing  this  song  before  me  ?  " 

"  Sir,"  said  Eliot,  "  wit  you  well  I  am  a  minstrel,  and 


208  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

I  must  do  as  I  am  commanded  of  these  lords  that  I  bear 
the  arms  of.  And,  sir,  wit  you  well  that  Sir  Dinadan,  a 
knight  of  the  Table  Round,  made  this  song,  and  made  me 
to  sing  it  afore  you." 

"Thou  sayest  well,"  said  King  Mark,  "and  because 
thou  art  a  minstrel  thou  shalt  go  quit,  but  I  charge  thec 
hie  thee  fast  out  of  my  sight." 

So  the  harper  departed,  and  went  to  Sir  Tristram,  and 
told  him  how  he  had  sped.  Then  Sir  Tristram  let  make 
letters,  as  goodly  as  he  could,  to  Sir  Launcelot,  and  to 
Sir  Dinadan.  And  so  he  let  conduct  the  harper  out  of 
the  country.  But  to  say  that  King  Mark  was  wonderly 
wroth,  he  was ;  for  he  deemed  that  the  lay  that  was  sung 
afore  him  was  made  by  Sir  Tristram's  counsel,  wherefore 
he  thought  to  slay  him  and  all  his  well-willers  in  that 
country. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

How  KINO  MARK  SLEW  BY  TREASON  HIS  BROTHER  BOUDWINI  FOE 
GOOD  SERVICE  THAT  HE  HAD  DONS  TO  HIM. 

NOW  turn  we  to  another  matter,  which  befell  between 
King  Mark  and  his  brother,  that  was  called  the  good 
prince  Sir  Boudwine,  which  all  the  people  of  the  country 
loved  passing  well.  So  it  befell  upon  a  time  that  the  mis- 
creants Sarasins  \Saracms\  landed  in  the  country  of  Corn- 
wall, soon  after  that  the  Sessoines  were  gone ;  and  then 
the  good  prince  Sir  Boudwine,  at  the  landing  of  them,  he 
raised  the  country  privily  and  hastily,  and  or  it  was  day 
he  let  put  wild  fire  in  three  of  his  own  ships,  and  suddenly 
he  pulled  up  the  sails,  and  with  the  wind  he  made  those 
ships  to  be  driven  among  the  navy  of  the  Saracens.  And 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  209 

to  make  short  the  tale,  those  ships  set  on  fire  all  the  other 
ships  that  none  were  saved.  And  at  the  point  of  the  day 
the  good  prince  Sir  Boudwine,  with  all  his  fellowship,  set 
upon  the  miscreants  with  shouts  and  cries,  and  slew  tr 
the  number  of  forty  thousand,  and  left  none  alive.  Anc 
when  King  Mark  wist  this,  he  was  wondrous  wroth  that 
his  brother  should  win  such  worship ;  and  because  that 
this  prince  was  better  beloved  than  he  in  all  that  country, 
and  also  Sir  Boudwine  loved  well  Sir  Tristram,  therefore 
he  thought  to  slay  him,  and  thus  hastily,  as  a  man  being 
out  of  his  wit  and  lacking  natural  reason,  sent  for  the 
noble  prince  Sir  Boudwine  and  Anglides  his  wife,  and 
commanded  them  to  bring  their  young  son  with  them, 
that  he  might  see  him.  And  all  this  he  did  to  the  intent 
to  slay  the  child  as  well  as  the  father,  for  he  was  the 
falsest  traitor  that  ever  was  born.  Alas !  for  his  goodness 
and  for  his  good  deeds  this  gentle  prince  Sir  Boudwine 
was  slain.  So  when  he  came  with  his  wife  Anglides,  the 
king  made  them  fair  semblance  till  they  had  dined  ;  and 
when  they  had  dined,  King  Mark  sent  for  his  brother, 
and  said  to  him,  "  Brother,  how  sped  you  when  the  mis- 
creants arrived  by  you  ?  me  seemeth  it  had  been  your 
part  to  have  sent  me  word,  that  I  might  have  been  at  that 
journey ;  for  it  had  been  reason  that  I  might  have  had  the 
honor,  and  not  you." 

"  Sir,"  said  the  prince  Sir  Boudwine,  "  it  was  so  that  if 
I  had  tarried  till  I  had  sent  for  you,  the  miscreants  had 
destroyed  my  country." 

"Thou  liest,  false  traitor,"  said  King  Mark,  "forthou 
art  ever  about  to  win  worship  from  me,  and  put  me  to  dis- 
honor, and  thou  cherishest  that  I  hate." 

And  therewith  he  struck  him  to  the  heart  with  a 
dagger,  and  he  never  after  spake  word.  Then  the  lady 


aio  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

Anglides  his  wife  made  great  dole  and  swooned,  for  she 
saw  her  lord  slain  afore  her  face.  Then  was  there  no 
more  to  do  but  that  Prince  Boudwine  was  despoiled  and 
brought  to  burial,  but  Anglides  privily  gat  her  husband's 
doublet  and  his  shirt,  and  that  she  kept  secretly.  Then 
was  there  much  sorrow  and  crying,  and  great  dole  made 
Sir  Tristram,  Sir  Dinas,  and  Sir  Fergus,  and  so  did  all 
the  knights  that  were  there,  for  that  prince  was  passingly 
well  beloved.  So  la  Belle  Isolde  sent  to  Anglides,  Prince 
Boudwine's  wife,  and  bade  her  avoid  lightly  [escape  quick- 
ly], or  else  her  young  son  Alisander  Lorfelin  should  be 
slain.  When  she  heard  this,  she  took  her  horse  and  her 
young  child  Alisander,  and  rode  her  way,  with  such  poor 
men  as  durst  ride  with  her. 


CHAPTER   XXXIV. 

How  ANGLIDES,  BOUDWINE'S  WIFE,  ESCAPED  WITH  HER  YOUNG  SON  ALI- 
SANDER LORFELIN,  AND  CAME  TO  THE  CASTLE  OF  ARUNDEL. 

TVTOTWITHSTANDING  when  King  Mark  had  done 
1  T!  this  deed,  yet  he  bethought  him  to  do  more  ven- 
geance, and  with  his  sword  in  his  hand  he  sought  from 
chamber  to  chamber  to  find  Anglides  and  her  young  son. 
And  when  she  was  missed,  he  called  a  good  knight  that 
hight  Sir  Sadoc,  and  charged  him  upon  pain  of  death  to 
fetch  Anglides  again  and  her  young  son.  So  Sir  Sadoc 
departed  and  rode  after  Anglides,  and  within  ten  mile  he 
overtook  her,  and  bade  her  turn  again  and  ride  with  him 
unto  King  Mark. 

"Alas,  fair  knight/'  said  she,  "what  shall  ye  win  by 
my  son's  death,  or  by  mine  ?  I  have  had  overmuch  harm, 
and  too  great  a  loss." 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  2 1 1 

"Madam,"  said  Sir  Sadoc,  "of  your  loss  is  dole  and 
pity ;  but,  madam,  would  you  depart  out  of  this  country 
with  your  son  Alisander,  and  keep  him  till  he  be  of  age, 
that  he  may  revenge  his  father's  death,  then  would  I 
suffer  you  to  depart  from  me,  so  ye  promise  me  to  revenge 
the  death  of  Prince  Boudwine." 

"Ah,  gentle  knight,  Jesu  thank  thee,  and  if  my  son 
Alisander  live  to  be  a  good  knight,  he  shall  have  his 
father's  doublet  and  his  shirt  with  the  bloody  marks ;  and 
I  shall  give  him  such  a  charge  that  he  shall  remember  it 
while  he  liveth." 

And  therewith  Sir  Sadoc  departed  from  her,  and  either 
betook  other  to  God. 

Now  turn  we  unto  Anglides,  which  rode  both  night  and 
day  by  adventure  out  of  Cornwall,  and  in  a  little  and  in 
few  places  she  rested  herself,  but  ever  she  drew  south- 
ward unto  the  seaside,  till  by  fortune  she  came  to  a  castle 
that  was  called  Magounce,  and  now  it  is  called  Arundel, 
in  Southsex  [Sussex].  And  the  constable  of  the  castle 
welcomed  her,  and  said  she  was  welcome  to  her  own 
castle.  And  there  was  Anglides  worshipfully  received, 
for  the  constable's  wife  was  nigh  cousin  to  her.  And  the 
constable's  name  was  Bellangere,  and  the  constable  told 
dame  Anglides  that  the  same  castle  was  hers  by  right 
inheritance.  Then  dame  Anglides  endured  years  and 
winters  till  that  her  son  Alisander  was  big  and  strong. 
There  was  none  so  mighty  in  all  that  country,  neither 
there  was  none  that  might  do  no  manner  of  mastery  afore 
him. 


212  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER   XXXV. 

How  ANGLIDES   GAVE   THE   BLOODY  DOUBLET  UNTO  ALISANDER  HER 

SON  THE  SAME  DAY  THAT  HE  WAS  MADE  KNIGHT,  AND  THE  CHARG1 
WITHAL. 

THEN  upon  a  day  Sir  Bellangere  the  constable  came 
unto  dame  Anglides  and  said,  "Madam,  it  were 
time  that  my  lord  Alisander  were  made  a  knight,  for  he  is 
a  passing  strong  young  man." 

"  Sir,"  said  Anglides,  "  I  would  he  were  made  knight ; 
but  then  I  must  give  him  the  most  charge  that  ever  sinful 
mother  gave  to  her  child." 

"  Do  as  ye  list,"  said  Sir  Bellangere,  "  and  I  shall  give 
him  warning  that  he  shall  be  made  knight.  Now  it  will 
be  well  done  that  he  may  be  made  knight  at  our  Ladyday 
in  Lent." 

"  Be  it  so,"  said  Anglides,  "  and  I  pray  you  make  ready 
therefore." 

So  came  the  constable  to  Alisander,  and  told  him  that 
he  should  at  our  Ladyday  in  Lent  be  made  knight. 

"I  thank  God,"  said  Alisander,  "these  are  the  best 
tidings  that  ever  came  to  me." 

Then  the  constable  ordained  twenty  of  the  greatest 
gentlemen's  sons,  and  the  best  born  men  of  the  country, 
that  should  be  made  knights  that  same  day  that  Alisander 
was  made  knight.  So  on  the  same  day  that  Alisander 
and  his  twenty  fellows  were  made  knights,  at  the  offering 
of  the  mass  there  came  Anglides  unto  her  son,  and  said 
thus :  "  O  fair  sweet  son,  I  charge  thee  upon  my  blessing, 
and  of  the  high  order  of  chivalry  that  thou  takest  here 
this  day,  that  thou  understand  what  I  shall  say  and  charge 
thee  withal." 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  213 

Therewithal  she  pulled  out  a  bloody  doublet  and  a 
bloody  shirt,  that  were  be-bled  with  old  blood.  When 
Alisander  saw  this,  he  started  back  and  waxed  pale,  and 
said,  "  Fair  mother,  what  may  this  mean  ?  " 

"  I  shall  tell  thee,  fair  son ;  this  was  thine  own  father's 
doublet  and  shirt  that  he  ware  upon  him  that  same  day 
that  he  was  slain." 

And  there  she  told  him  why  and  wherefore :  and  how 
for  his  goodness  "  King  Mark  slew  him  with  his  dagger 
afore  mine  own  eyes.  And  therefore  this  shall  be  your 
charge,  that  I  shall  give  thee.  Now  I  require  thee  and 
charge  thee  upon  my  blessing,  and  upon  the  high  order 
of  knighthood,  that  thou  be  revenged  upon  King  Mark 
for  the  death  of  thy  father." 

And  therewithal  she  swooned.  Then  Alisander  leaped 
to  his  mother,  and  took  her  up  in  his  arms,  and  said, 
"  Fair  mother,  ye  have  given  me  a  great  charge,  and  here 
I  promise  you  that  I  shall  be  avenged  upon  King  Mark 
when  I  may,  and  that  I  promise  unto  God  and  unto  you." 

So  this  feast  was  ended.  And  the  constable,  by  the 
advice  of  Anglides,  let  purvey  that  Sir  Alisander  was  well 
horsed  and  well  armed.  Then  he  jousted  with  his  twenty 
fellows  that  were  made  knights  with  him ;  but  for  to  make 
short  tale,  he  overthrew  all  those  twenty  knights,  so  that 
none  of  them  might  withstand  him  a  buffet.  Then  one 
of  those  knights  departed  for  to  go  to  King  Mark,  and 
tcld  him  all  how  Sir  Alisander  was  made  knight,  and  all 
the  charge  that  his  mother  gave  him,  as  ye  have  heard 
before. 

"  Alas,  false  traitor ! "  said  King  Mark,  "  I  weened  that 
young  traitor  had  been  dead ;  alas  !  whom  may  I  trust  ? " 

And  therewithal  King  Mark  took  a  sword  in  his  hand, 
and  sought  Sir  Sadoc  from  chamber  to  chamber  to  slay 


214  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

him.  When  Sir  Sadoc  saw  King  Mark  come  with  his 
sword  drawn  in  his  hand,  he  said  thus :  "  Beware,  King 
Mark,  thou  come  not  near  me,  for  wit  thou  well  that  I 
saved  Alisander  his  life,  of  which  I  will  never  repent  me, 
for  thou  falsely  and  cowardly  slewest  his  father  Boudwine, 
and  traitorously,  for  his  good  deeds ;  wherefore  I  pray  God 
send  Sir  Alisander  might  and  strength  to  be  revenged 
upon  thee :  and  now  beware,  King  Mark,  of  young  Sir 
Alisander,  for  he  is  made  a  knight." 

"Alas,"  said  King  Mark,  "that  ever  I  should  hear  a 
traitor  say  so  before  me." 

And  therewith  four  of  King  Mark's  knights  drew  their 
swords  to  slay  Sir  Sadoc ;  but  anon  Sir  Sadoc  slew  them 
all  in  King  Mark's  presence.  And  so  Sir  Sadoc  passed 
forth  into  his  chamber,  and  took  his  horse  and  his  harness, 
and  rode  his  way  a  good  pace ;  for  there  was  neither  Sir 
Tristram,  nor  yet  Sir  Dinas  the  seneschal,  nor  Sir  Fergus, 
that  would  Sir  Sadoc  any  evil  will.  Then  was  King  Mark 
wroth,  and  thought  for  to  destroy  Sir  Alisander  and  also 
Sir  Sadoc,  that  had  saved  his  life ;  for  King  Mark  dreaded 
and  hated  Sir  Alisander  most  of  any  man  living.  When 
Sir  Tristram  understood  that  Alisander  was  made  knight, 
anon  forthwithal  he  sent  him  a  letter,  praying  him  and 
charging  him  that  he  would  draw  him  to  the  court  of  King 
Arthur,  and  that  he  put  him  in  the  rule  and  in  the  hands 
of  Sir  Launcelot.  So  this  letter  was  sent  to  Alisander 
from  his  cousin  Sir  Tristram.  And  at  that  time  he 
thought  to  do  after  his  commandment.  Then  King  Mark 
called  a  knight  that  brought  him  the  tidings  from  Alisan- 
der, and  bade  him  abide  still  in  that  country. 

"  Sir,"  said  that  knight,  "  so  must  I  do,  for  in  mine  own 
country  I  dare  not  come." 

"  No  force,"  said  King  Mark :  "  I  shall  give  thee  here 
double  as  much  lands  as  thou  hadst  of  thine  owi>  " 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  215 

But  within  short  space  Sir  Sadoc  met  with  that  false 
knight  and  slew  him.  Then  was  King  Mark  wood  wroth 
out  of  measure.  Then  he  sent  unto  Queen  Morgan  le 
Fay  and  to  the  queen  of  Northgalis,  praying  them  in  his 
letters  that  they  two  sorceresses  would  set  all  the  country 
in  fire,  with  ladies  that  were  enchantresses,  and  by  such 
that  were  dangerous  knights,  as  Malgrin,  and  Breuse  Sans 
Pitie ;  that  by  no  means  Alisander  Lorphelin  should  es- 
cape, but  either  he  should  be  taken  or  slain.  This  ordi- 
nance made  King  Mark  for  to  destroy  Alisander. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

How  SIR  ALISANDER  WON  THE  PRIZE  AT  A  TOURNAMENT,  AND  OF 
MORGAN  LE  FAY.  AND  HOW  HE  FOUGHT  WITH  SIR  MALGRIN  AND 
SLEW  HIM. 

NOW  turn  we  again  unto  Sir  Alisander,  that  at  his 
departing  from  his  mother  took  with  him  his  father's 
bloody  shirt.  So  that  he  bare  with  him  always  till  his 
death  day,  in  tokening  to  think  on  his  father's  death.  So 
was  Alisander  purposed  for  to  ride  to  London  (by  the 
counsel  of  Sir  Tristram)  unto  Sir  Launcelot.  And  by 
fortune  he  went  by  the  seaside,  and  rode  wrong.  And 
there  he  won  at  a  tournament  the  degree,  which  tourna- 
ment King  Carados  made ;  and  there  he  smote  down  King 
Carados  and  twenty  of  his  knights,  and  also  Sir  Safere  a 
good  knight,  which  was  Sir  Palamides'  brother.  All  this 
saw  a  damsel,  and  said  she  saw  the  best  knight  joust  that 
ever  she  saw.  And  ever  as  he  smote  down  knights,  he 
made  them  for  to  swear  to  wear  no  harness  in  a  twelve- 
months and  a  day. 


216  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"  This  is  well  said,"  quoth  Morgan  le  Fay,  "  this  is  the 
knight  that  I  would  fain  see." 

And  so  she  took  her  palfrey,  and  rode  a  great  while, 
and  she  rested  her  in  her  pavilion.  So  there  came  four 
knights,  and  two  were  armed  and  two  were  unarmed,  and 
they  told  Morgan  le  Fay  their  names.  The  first  was  Sir 
Elias  de  Gomeret,  the  second  was  Sir  Car  de  Gomeret ; 
those  were  armed.  And  the  other  twain  were  of  Game- 
Hard,  cousins  unto  Queen  Guenever,  and  the  one  hight  Sir 
Guy,  and  that  other  hight  Sir  Garant,  and  those  were  un- 
armed. There  these  four  knights  told  Queen  Morgan  le 
Fay  how  a  young  knight  had  smitten  them  down  by  a 
castle ;  "  for  the  damsel  of  the  castle  said  that  he  was  but 
late  made  knight  and  young;  but  as  we  suppose,  but  it 
it  were  Sir  Tristram,  or  Sir  Launcelot,  or  Sir  Lamorak 
the  good  knight,  there  is  none  that  might  sit  him  buffet 
with  a  spear." 

"Well,"  said  Queen  Morgan  le  Fay,  "I  shall  meet  with 
that  knight  or  it  be  long  time,  and  he  dwell  in  that  coun- 
try." 

So  turn  we  unto  the  damsel  of  the  castle,  that  when 
Sir  Alisander  Lorphelin  had  forj  ousted  [jousted  down]  the 
four  knights,  she  called  him  unto  her,  and  said,  "Sir 
knight,  wilt  thou  for  my  sake  joust  and  fight  with  a  knight 
of  this  country,  the  which  is  and  hath  been  long  time  an 
evil  neighbor  unto  me,  and  his  name  is  called  Sir  Malgrin ; 
and  he  will  not  suffer  me  to  be  married  in  no  manner  of 
wise  for  all  that  I  can  do,  or  any  knight  for  my  sake." 

"Damsel,"  said  Alisander,  "and  he  come  while  I  am 
here  I  will  fight  with  him,  and  my  poor  body  for  your  sake 
I  will  jeopard." 

And  therewithal  she  sent  for  him,  for  he  was  at  her 
commandment.  And  when  either  had  a  sight  of  other 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  217 

they  made  them  ready  for  to  joust,  and  they  came  together 
eagerly,  and  Malgrin  bruised  his  spear  upon  Alisander, 
and  Alisander  smote  him  again  so  hard  that  he  bare  him 
quite  from  his  saddle  to  the  earth.  But  this  Malgrin  arose 
lightly  and  dressed  his  shield  and  drew  his  sword,  and 
bade  him  alight,  saying,  "  Though  thou  have  the  better  of 
me  on  horseback,  shalt  thou  find  that  I  shall  endure  like  a 
knight  on  foot." 

"  It  is  well  said,"  said  Alisander. 

And  so  lightly  he  voided  his  horse,  and  betook  him  to 
his  varlet.  And  then  they  rashed  together  like  two  boars, 
and  laid  on  their  helms  and  shields  long  time  by  the  space 
of  three  hours,  that  never  man  could  say  which  was  the 
better  knight.  And  in  the  meanwhile  came  Morgan  le 
Fay  to  the  damsel  of  the  castle,  and  they  beheld  the 
battle.  But  this  Malgrin  was  an  old  knight,  and  he  was 
called  one  of  the  dangerous  knights  of  the  world  to  do 
battle  on  foot,  but  on  horseback  there  were  many  better. 
And  ever  this  Malgrin  awaited  to  slay  Alisander,  and  so 
wounded  him  wonderly  sore,  that  it  was  marvel  that  ever 
he  might  stand,  for  he  had  bled  so  much  blood :  for  Ali- 
sander fought  wildly  and  not  wittily.  And  that  other  was 
a  felonious  knight,  and  awaited  him,  and  smote  him  sore. 
And  sometime  they  rashed  together  with  their  shields  like 
two  boars  or  rams,  and  fell  grovelling  both  to  the  earth. 

"Now  knight,"  said  Malgrin,  "hold  thy  hand  awhile, 
*nd  tell  what  thou  art." 

"I  will  not,"  said  Alisander,  "but  if  me  list.  But  tell 
me  thy  name,  and  why  thou  keepest  this  country,  or  else 
thou  shalt  die  of  my  hands." 

"Wit  thou  well,"  said  Malgrin,  "that  for  the  maiden's 
love  of  this  castle  I  have  slain  ten  knights  by  mishap,  and 
by  outrage  and  pride  of  myself  I  have  slain  ten  other 
knights." 


218  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"So  God  me  help,"  said  Sir  Alisander,  "this  is  the 
foulest  confession  that  ever  I  heard  knight  make,  nor 
never  heard  I  speak  of  other  men  of  such  a  shameful  con- 
fession, wherefore  it  were  great  pity  and  great  shame  to 
me  that  I  should  let  thee  live  any  longer ;  therefore  keep 
thee  as  well  as  thou  mayst,  for  I  promise  thee  faithfully 
as  I  am  a  true  knight  either  thou  shalt  slay  me  or  else  I 
shall  slay  thee." 

Then  again  they  lashed  together  fiercely,  and  at  the 
last  Sir  Alisander  smote  Sir  Malgrin  to  the  earth,  and 
then  he  rashed  off  his  helm  and  lightly  smote  off  his 
head.  And  when  he  had  thus  done,  and  ended  this 
battle,  anon  he  called  unto  him  his  varlet,  the  which 
brought  him  his  horse.  And  then  weening  to  be  strong 
enough  he  would  have  mounted,  but  he  fell  down  flat  to 
the  earth  for  feebleness.  The  damsel  of  the  castle  seeing 
that,  laid  Sir  Alisander  in  a  horse  litter,  and  led  him  to 
the  castle,  for  he  had  neither  force  nor  might  to  stand 
upon  the  ground ;  for  he  had  sixteen  great  wounds,  and 
in  especial  one  of  them  was  like  to  be  his  death. 


CHAPTER   XXXVII. 
How  OUEEN  MORGAN  LE  FAY  HAD  SIR  ALISANDER  IN  HER  CASTTX, 

AND  HOW  SHE  HEALED  HIS   WOUNDS. 

THEN  Queen  Morgan  le  Fay  searched  his  wounds, 
and  gave  him  such  an  ointment  that  he  should  have 
died.  And  in  the  morning  after,  when  she  came  to  him, 
he  complained  him  sore,  and  then  she  put  other  ointments 
upon  him,  and  then  was  he  out  of  his  pain.  Then  came 
the  damsel  of  the  castle,  and  said  unto  Morgan  le  Fay, 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  219 

"I  pray  you,  help  me  that  this  knight  might  wed  me; 
for  he  hath  won  me  with  his  hands." 

"Ye  shall  see,"  said  Morgan  le  Fay,  "what  I  shall 
say." 

Then  Morgan  le  Fay  went  to  Sir  Alisander  and  bade  in 
any  wise  that  he  should  refuse  this  lady  "  if  she  desire  to 
wed  you,  for  she  is  not  for  you." 

So  the  damsel  came  and  desired  of  him  marriage. 

"  Damsel,"  said  Lorphelin,  "  I  thank  you,  but  as  yet  I 
cast  me  not  to  marry  in  this  country." 

"  Sir,"  said  she,  "  sithen  ye  will  not  marry  me,  I  pray 
you,  insomuch  as  ye  have  won  me,  that  ye  will  give  me  to 
a  knight  of  this  country  that  hath  been  my  friend  and 
loved  me  many  years." 

"With  all  my  heart,"  said  Alisander,  "I  will  assent 
thereto." 

Then  was  the  knight  sent  for ;  his  name  was  Sir  Gerine 
le  Grose.  And  anon  he  made  them  handfast  and  wedded 
them.  Then  came  Queen  Morgan  le  Fay  to  Alisander, 
and  bade  him  arise,  and  put  him  in  a  horse-litter;  and 
gave  him  such  a  drink  that  in  three  days  and  three  nights 
he  waked  never  but  slept ;  and  so  she  brought  him  to  her 
own  castle,  that  at  that  time  was  called  la  Belle  Regard, 
Then  Morgan  le  Fay  came  to  Alisander,  and  asked  him 
if  he  would  fain  be  whole. 

"  Who  would  be  sick,"  said  Alisander,  "  and  he  might 
be  whole?" 

"Well,"  said  Morgan  le  Fay,  "then  shall  ye  promise 
me  by  your  knighthood  that  this  day  twelvemonth  and  a 
day  ye  shall  not  pass  the  compass  of  this  castle,  and  with- 
out doubt  ye  shall  lightly  be  whole." 

"  I  assent,"  said  Sir  Alisander. 

And  there  he  made  her  a  promise.     Then  was  he  soon 


22O  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

whole.  And  when  Alisander  was  whole  then  he  repented 
him  of  his  oath,  for  he  might  not  be  revenged  upon  King 
Mark.  Right  so  there  came  a  damsel  that  was  cousin  to 
the  Earl  of  Pase,  and  she  was  cousin  to  Morgan  le  Fay. 
And  by  right  that  castle  of  la  Belle  Regard  should  have 
been  hers  by  true  inheritance.  So  this  damsel  entered 
into  this  castle  where  lay  Alisander,  and  there  she  found 
him  upon  his  bed,  passing  heavy  and  all  sad. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

How  SIR  ALISANDER  WAS  DELIVERED  FROM  QUEEN  MORGAN  LE  FAt 
BY  THE  MEANS  OF  A  DAMSEL. 

SIR  knight,*'  said  the  damsel,  "  if  ye  would  be  merry, 
I  could  tell  you  good  tidings." 

"Well  were  me,"  said  Sir  Alisander,  "and  I  might  hear 
of  good  tidings,  for  I  stand  as  a  prisoner  by  my  promise." 

"Sir,"  said  she,  "wit  you  well  that  ye  be  a  prisoner, 
and  worse  than  ye  ween ;  so  God  help  me,"  said  the 
damsel,  "and  ye  would  love  me  and  be  ruled  by  me,  I 
shall  make  your  deliverance  with  your  worship." 

"Tell  me,"  said  Sir  Alisander,  "by  what  means,  and 
ye  shall  have  my  love." 

"  Fair  knight,"  said  she,  "  this  castle  of  right  ought  for 
to  be  mine,  and  I  have  an  uncle  that  is  a  mighty  earl,  for 
he  is  Earl  of  Pase,  and  of  all  folks  he  hateth  most 
Morgan  le  Fay,  and  I  shall  send  unto  him,  and  pray  him 
that  for  my  sake  he  will  destroy  this  castle  for  the  evil 
customs  that  be  used  therein,  and  then  will  he  come  and 
set  wildfire  on  every  part  of  the  castle,  and  I  shall  get 
you  out  at  a  privy  postern,  and  there  ye  shall  have  your 
horse  and  your  harness." 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  221 

"Ye  say  well,  damsel,"  said  Sir  Alisander. 

And  then  she  said,  "Ye  may  keep  the  room  of  this 
castle  these  twelve  months  and  a  day,  then  break  ye  not 
your  oath." 

"  Truly,  fair  damsel,"  said  Sir  Alisander,  "  ye  say 
sooth."  ' 

So  anon  she  sent  to  her  uncle,  and  bade  him  come 
and  destroy  that  castle.  When  the  earl  understood  her 
letters,  he  sent  her  word  again  that  upon  such  a  day  he 
would  come  and  destroy  that  castle.  So  when  the  day 
came,  she  showed  Sir  Alisander  a  postern,  wherethrough 
he  should  flee  into  a  garden,  and  there  he  should  find  his 
armor  and  his  horse.  [Then]  came  the  Earl  of  Pase,  with 
four  hundred  knights,  and  set  fire  on  all  the  parts  of  the 
castle,  that  or  they  ceased  they  left  not  a  stone  standing. 
And  all  this  while  that  the  fire  was  in  the  castle,  he 
abode  still  in  the  garden ;  and  when  the  fire  was  done,  he 
let  cry  that  he  would  keep  that  piece  of  earth  there  as 
the  Castle  of  la  Belle  Regard  was,  twelve  months  and  a 
day  from  all  manner  of  knights  that  would  come.  So  it 
happened  that  there  was  a  duke  that  hight  Anserus,  and 
he  was  of  the  kin  of  Sir  Launcelot.  And  this  knight  was 
a  great  pilgrim,  for  every  third  year  he  would  be  at  Jeru- 
salem. And  because  he  used  all  his  life  to  go  in  pilgrim- 
age, men  called  him  Duke  Anserus  the  Pilgrim.  And 
this  duke  had  a  daughter  that  hight  Alice,  that  was  a 
passing  fair  woman,  and  because  of  her  father  she  was 
called  Alice  la  Belle  Pilgrim.  And  anon  as  she  heard  of 
this  cry,  she  went  unto  Arthur's  court,  and  said  openly  in 
hearing  of  many  knights,  "that  what  knight  may  over- 
come that  knight  that  keepeth  that  piece  of  earth  shall 
have  me  and  all  my  lands." 

When  the  knights  of  the  Round  Table  heard  her  say 


222  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

thus,  many  were  glad,  for  she  was  passing  fair,  and  of 
great  rents.  Right  so  she  let  cry  in  castles  and  towns  a? 
fast  on  her  side  as  Sir  Alisander  did  on  his  side.  Then 
she  dressed  her  pavilion  straight  by  the  piece  of  earth 
that  Alisander  kept.  So  she  was  not  so  soon  there  but 
there  came  a  knight  of  Arthur's  court,  that  hight  Sagra- 
more  le  Desirous,  and  he  proffered  to  joust  with  Alisander, 
and  they  encountered,  and  Sagramore  le  Desirous  bruised 
his  spear  upon  Sir  Alisander,  but  Sir  Alisander  smote 
him  so  hard  that  he  avoided  his  saddle.  And  when  la 
Belle  Alice  saw  him  joust  so  well,  she  thought  him  a  pass- 
ing goodly  knight  on  horseback.  And  then  she  leaped  out 
of  her  pavilion,  and  took  Sir  Alisander  by  the  bridle,  and 
thus  she  said  :  "  Fair  knight,  I  require  thee  of  thy  knight- 
hood, show  me  thy  visage." 

"I  dare  well,"  said  Alisander,  "show  my  visage."  And 
then  he  put  off  his  helm  ;  and  when  she  saw  his  visage 
she  said,  "Truly,  thee  I  must  love  and  never  other." 

"  Then  show  me  your  visage,"  said  he. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

How  ALISANDER  MET  WITH  ALICE  LA  BELLE  PILGRIM,  AND  HOW  HI 

JOUSTED  WITH  TWO  KNIGHTS;    AND  AFTER  OF  HIM  AND  OF  SlR  MOR- 
DRED. 

THEN  she  un wimpled  her  visage.     And  when  he  saw 
her  he  said,  "  Here  have  I  found  my  love  and  my 
lady.    Truly,  fair  lady,"  said  he,  "  I  promise  you  to  be  your 
knight,  and  none  other  that  beareth  the  life." 

"  Now,  gentle  knight,"  said  she,  "  tell  me  your  name." 
"  My  name  is,"  said  he,  "  Alisander  Lorphelin.     Now, 
damsel,  tell  me  your  name,"  said  he. 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  223 

"  My  name  is,"  said  she,  "  Alice  la  Belle  Pilgrim.  And 
when  we  be  more  at  our  heart's  ease,  both  ye  and  I  shall 
tell  each  other  of  what  blood  we  be  come."  So  there  was 
great  love  betwixt  them. 

And  as  they  thus  talked,  there  came  a  knight  that  hight 
Harsouse  le  Berbuse,  and  asked  part  of  Sir  Alisander 's 
spears.  Then  Sir  Alisander  encountered  with  him,  and  at 
the  first  Sir  Alisander  smote  him  over  his  horse's  crupper. 
And  then  there  came  another  knight  that  hight  Sir  Hew- 
gon.  And  Sir  Alisander  smote  him  down  as  he  did  that 
other.  Then  Sir  Hewgon  proffered  to  do  battle  on  foot. 
Sir  Alisander  overcame  him  with  three  strokes,  and  there 
would  have  slain  him  had  he  not  yielded  him.  So  then 
Alisander  made  both  those  knights  to  swear  to  wear  none 
armor  in  a  twelvemonth  and  a  day.  Then  Sir  Alisander 
alighted  down,  and  went  to  rest  him  and  repose  him. 
Then  the  damsel  that  helped  Sir  Alisander  out  of  the 
castle,  in  her  play  told  dame  Alice  altogether  how  he  was 
prisoner  of  the  castle  of  la  Belle  Regard :  and  there  she 
told  her  how  she  gat  him  out  of  prison. 

"  Sir,"  said  Alice  la  Belle  Pilgrim,  "  me  seemeth  ye  are 
much  beholden  to  this  maiden." 

"  That  is  truth,"  said  Sir  Alisander.  And  there  Alice 
told  him  of  what  blood  she  was  come. 

"  Sir,  wit  ye  well,"  she  said,  "  that  I  am  of  the  blood  of 
King  Ban,  that  was  father  unto  Sir  Launcelot." 

"  Ye  wis,  fair  lady,"  said  Alisander,  "  my  mother  told 
rae  that  my  father  was  brother  unto  a  king,  and  I  am  nigh 
cousin  to  Sir  Tristram." 

Then  this  while  came  there  three  knights,  that  one 
hight  Vains,  and  that  other  hight  Harvis  of  the  Marches, 
and  the  third  hight  Perin  of  the  Mountain.  And  with 
one  spear  Sir  Alisander  smote  them  down  all  three,  and 


224  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

gave  them  such  falls  that  they  had  no  lust  [desire]  to  fight 
on  foot ;  so  he  made  them  to  swear  to  wear  no  armor  in 
twelve  months.  So  when  they  were  departed,  Sir  Ali« 
sander  beheld  his  lady  Alice  on  horseback  as  she  stood  in 
her  pavilion,  and  then  he  was  so  enamoured  upon  her  that 
he  wist  not  whether  he  was  on  horseback  or  on  foot. 
Right  so  came  the  false  knight  Sir  Mordred,  and  saw  that 
Sir  Alisander  was  assotted  on  his  lady ;  and  therewithal 
took  his  horse  by  the  bridle  and  led  him  here  and  there, 
and  had  thought  to  have  led  him  out  of  that  place  to  have 
shamed  him.  When  the  damsel  that  had  helped  him  out 
of  the  castle  saw  how  shamefully  he  was  led,  anon  she  let 
arm  her,  and  set  a  shield  on  her  shoulder,  and  forthwith 
she  mounted  upon  his  horse,  and  gat  a  naked  sword  in 
her  hand,  and  she  thrust  unto  Sir  Alisander  with  all  her 
might,  and  she  gave  him  such  a  buffet  that  he  thought 
the  fire  flew  out  of  his  eyes.  And  when  Sir  Alisander 
felt  that  stroke,  he  looked  about  him,  and  drew  out  his 
sword ;  and  when  he  saw  that  she  fled,  and  Sir  Mordred 
also,  into  the  forest,  and  the  damsel  fled  into  her  pavilion, 
so  when  Sir  Alisander  understood  himself  how  the  false 
knight  would  have  shamed  him,  had  not  the  damsel  been, 
then  was  he  passing  wroth  with  himself  that  Sir  Mordred 
had  so  escaped  his  hands.  But  then  Sir  Alisander  and 
dame  Alice  had  good  game  at  the  damsel,  how  sadly  she 
!iit  him  upon  the  helm.  Then  Sir  Alisander  jousted  thus 
day  by  day,  and  on  foot  he  did  many  battles  with  many 
knights  of  King  Arthur's  court,  and  with  many  knights 
strangers.  Therefore  to  tell  all  the  battles  that  he  did,  it 
were  overmuch  to  rehearse  them  all,  for  every  day  within 
those  twelve  months  he  had  to  do  with  one  knight  or 
other,  and  some  day  he  had  to  do  with  three  or  four,  and 
there  was  never  knight  that  put  him  to  the  worse.  And  at 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  225 

the  twelvemonth's  end  he  departed  with  his  lady  Alice  la 
Belle  Pilgrim.  And  the  damsel  would  never  go  from  him. 
And  so  they  went  into  their  country  of  Benoy,  and  lived 
there  in  great  joy. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  MET  WITH  SIR  DINADAN,  AND  OF  THEIR  DEVICES, 

AND  WHAT  HE  SAID  UNTO  SlR  GAWAINE*S  BRETHREN. 

NOW  turn  we  unto  Sir  Tristram,  that,  as  he  rode  on 
hunting,  he  met  with  Sir  Dinadan,  that  was  come 
into  that  country  for  to  seek  Sir  Tristram.  Then  Sir 
Dinadan  told  Sir  Tristram  his  name,  but  Sir  Tristram 
would  not  tell  his  name ;  wherefor  Sir  Dinadan  was 
wroth. 

"  For  such  a  foolish  knight  as  ye  are,"  said  Sir  Dinadan, 
"  I  saw  but  late  to-day  lying  by  a  well,  and  he  fared  as 
he  had  slept,  and  there  he  lay  like  a  fool  grinning  and 
would  not  speak,  and  his  shield  lay  by  him,  and  his  horse 
stood  by  him,  and  well  I  wot  he  was  a  lover." 

"  Ah,  fair  sir,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  are  ye  not  a  lover  ? ' 

"  Marry,  fie  upon  that  craft,"  said  Sir  Dinadan. 

"  That  is  evil  said,"  quoth  Sir  Tristram,  "  for  a  knight 
may  never  be  of  prowess,  but  if  he  be  a  lover." 

"It  is  well  said,"  quoth  Sir  Dinadan;  "IK>W  tell  me 
your  name,  sith  ye  be  a  lover,  or  else  I  shall  do  battle 
with  you." 

"  As  for  that,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  it  is  no  reason  to 
fight  with  me  but  I  tell  you  my  name ;  as  for  that,  my 
name  shall  ye  not  know  as  at  this  time." 

"  Fie  for  shame,"  said  Sir  Dinadan,  "  art  thou  a  knight 


226  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

and  darest  not  tell  me  thy  name  ?  therefore  I  will  fight 
with  thee." 

"  As  for  that,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  I  will  be  advised, 
for  I  will  not  fight  but  if  me  list ;  and  if  I  do  battle," 
said  Sir  Tristram,  "ye  are  not  able  for  to  withstand  me." 

"  Fie  on  thee,  coward,"  said  Sir  Dinadan. 

And  thus  as  they  still  hoved,  they  saw  a  knight  come 
riding  against  them. 

"  Lo,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  see  where  cometh  a  knight 
riding  that  will  joust  with  you." 

Anon,  as  Sir  Dinadan  beheld  him,  he  said,  "  It  is  the 
same  doting  knight  that  I  saw  lie  by  the  well  neither 
sleeping  nor  waking." 

"Well,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "I  know  that  knight  full 
well  with  the  covered  shield  of  azure;  he  is  the  king's 
son  of  Northumberland,  his  name  is  Epinegris,  and  he  is 
as  great  a  lover  as  I  know,  and  he  loveth  the  king's 
daughter  of  Wales,  a  full  fair  lady.  And  now  I  suppose," 
said  Sir  Tristram,  "and  ye  require  him  he  will  joust  with 
you  ;  and  then  shall  ye  prove  whether  a  lover  be  a  better 
knight  or  ye  that  will  not  love  no  lady." 

"Well,"  said  Sir  Dinadan,  "now  shalt  thou  see  what  I 
shall  do." 

Therewithal  Sir  Dinadan  spake  on  high  and  said,  "  Sir 
knight,  make  thee  ready  to  joust  with  me,  for  it  is  the 
custom  of  errant  knights  one  to  joust  with  the  other." 

"Sir,"  said  Epinegris,  "is  it  the  rule  of  you  errant 
knights  for  to  make  a  knight  to  joust  will  he  or  nill  ? " 

"As  for  that,"  said  Dinadan,  "make  thee  ready,  for 
here  is  for  me." 

And  therewithal  they  spurred  their  horses,  and  met 
together  so  hard  that  Epinegris  smote  down  Sir  Dinadan. 
Then  Sir  Tristram  rode  to  Sir  Dinadan,  and  said,  "  How 
now?  me  seemeth  the  lover  hath  right  well  sped." 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  227 

"  Fie  upon  thee,  coward,"  said  Sir  Dinadan,  "  and  if 
thou  be  any  good  knight,  now  revenge  my  shame." 

"Nay,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "I  will  not  joust  as  at  this 
time,  but  take  your  horse  and  let  us  go  from  hence." 

"God  defend  me,"  said  Sir  Dinadan,  "from  thy  fellow- 
ship, for  I  never  sped  well  sith  I  met  with  thee." 

And  so  they  departed. 

"Well,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  " peradventure  I  could  tell 
you  tidings  of  Sir  Tristram." 

"  God  defend  me,"  said  Sir  Dinadan,  "  from  thy  fellow- 
ship, for  Sir  Tristram  were  much  the  worse  and  he  were 
in  thy  company." 

And  then  they  departed. 

"  Sir,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  yet  it  may  happen  that  1 
shall  meet  with  you  in  other  places." 

And  so  Sir  Tristram  rode  unto  Joyous  Gard,  and  there 
heard  in  that  town  great  noise  and  cry. 

"  What  meaneth  this  noise  ? "  said  Sir  Tristram. 

"  Sir,"  said  they,  "  here  is  a  knight  of  this  castle  which 
hath  been  long  among  us,  and  right  now  he  is  slain  with 
two  knights,  and  for  none  other  cause  but  that  our  knight 
said  that  Sir  Launcelot  was  a  better  knight  than  was  Sir 
Gawaine." 

"  That  was  but  a  simple  cause,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  to 
slay  a  good  knight  because  he  said  well  by  his  master." 

"  That  is  but  a  little  remedy  unto  us,"  said  the  men  of 
the  town ;  "  for  if  Sir  Launcelot  had  been  here,  soon  we 
should  have  been  revenged  upon  those  false  knights." 

When  Sir  Tristram  heard  them  say  so,  incontinent  he 
sent  for  his  shield  and  for  his  spear,  and  lightly  within  a 
little  while  he  had  overtaken  them,  and  bade  them  turn 
and  amend  that  they  had  misdone. 

"What  amends  .vouldst  thou  have?"  said  that  one 
knight. 


228  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

And  therewith  they  took  their  course,  and  either  met 
other  so  hard,  that  Sir  Tristram  smote  down  that  knight 
over  his  horse's  crupper.  Then  the  other  knight  dressed 
him  unto  Sir  Tristram,  and  in  the  same  wise  as  he  served 
the  first  knight,  so  he  served  him.  And  then  they  gat 
them  upon  their  feet  as  well  as  they  might,  and  dressed 
their  shields  and  their  swords  to  do  their  battle  unto  the 
uttermost. 

"Knights,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "ye  shall  tell  me  of 
whence  ye  are  and  what  be  your  names." 

"  Wit  thou  well,  sir  knight,"  said  they,  "  we  fear  us  not 
to  tell  thee  our  names,  for  my  name  is  Sir  Agravaine,  and 
my  name  is  Gaheris,  brethren  unto  the  good  knight  Sir 
Gawaine,  and  we  be  nephews  unto  King  Arthur." 

"  Well,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  for  King  Arthur's  sake  I 
shall  let  you  pass  as  at  this  time.  But  it  is  shame,"  said 
Sir  Tristram,  "  that  Sir  Gawaine  and  ye  that  be  come  of 
so  great  a  blood,  that  ye  four  brethren  are  so  named  as  ye 
be.  For  ye  be  called  the  greatest  destroyers  and  mur- 
derers of  good  knights  that  be  now  in  this  realm ;  for  it 
is  but  as  I  heard  say,  that  Sir  Gawaine  and  ye  slew  among 
you  a  better  knight  than  ever  ye  were,  that  was  the  noble 
knight  Sir  Lamorak  de  Galis ;  and  it  had  pleased  God," 
said  Sir  Tristram,  "  I  would  I  had  been  by  Sir  Lamorak 
at  his  death." 

"  Then  shouldest  thou  have  gone  the  same  way,"  said 
Sir  Gaheris. 

"Fair  knight,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "there  must  have 
been  many  more  knights  than  ye  are." 

And  therewithal  Sir  Tristram  departed  from  them 
toward  Joyous  Gard.  And  when  he  was  departed  they 
took  their  horses,  and  the  one  said  to  the  other,  "  We  will 
overtake  him  and  be  revenged  upon  him  in  the  despite  of 
Sir  Lamorak." 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  229 


CHAPTER   XLI. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  SMOTE  DOWN  SIR  AGRAVAINE  AND  SIR  GAHERIS, 

AND  HOW   SIR   DlNADAN   WAS  SENT  FOR  BY  LA   BELLE   ISOLDE. 

S~  O  when  they  had  overtaken  Sir  Tristram,  Sir  Agra- 
vaine  bade  him,  "Turn,  traitor  knight." 

"  That  is  evil  said,"  said  Sir  Tristram ;  and  therewith 
he  pulled  out  his  sword,  and  smote  Sir  Agravaine  such  a 
buffet  upon  the  helm  that  he  tumbled  down  off  his  horse 
in  a  swoon,  and  he  had  a  grievous  wound.  And  then  he 
turned  to  Gaheris,  and  Sir  Tristram  smote  his  sword  and 
his  helm  together  with  such  a  might  that  Gaheris  fell  out 
of  his  saddle ;  and  so  Sir  Tristram  rode  unto  Joyous 
Gard,  and  there  he  alighted  and  unarmed  him.  So  Sir 
Tristram  told  la  Belle  Isolde  of  all  his  adventure  as  ye 
have  heard  tofore.  And  when  she  heard  him  tell  of  Sir 
Dinadan,  "  Sir,"  she  said,  "  is  not  that  he  that  made  the 
song  by  King  Mark  ? " 

"That  same  is  he,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "for  he  is  th« 
best  joker  and  jester,  and  a  noble  knight  of  his  hands, 
and  the  best  fellow  that  I  know,  and  all  good  knights  love 
his  fellowship." 

"  Alas,  sir,"  said  she,  "  why  brought  ye  not  him  with 
you?" 

"  Have  ye  no  care,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  for  he  rideth  to 
seek  me  in  this  country,  and  therefore  he  will  not  away 
till  he  have  met  with  me." 

And  there  Sir  Tristram  told  la  Belle  Isolde  how  Sir 
Dinidan  held  against  all  lovers.  Right  so  there  came  in 
a  varlet  and  :old  Sir  Tristram  how  there  was  come  an 
errant  knight  into  the  town  with  such  colors  upon  his 
shield 


230  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"That  is  Sir  Dinadan,"  said  Sir  Tristram.  "Wit  ye 
what  ye  shall  do  ? "  said  Sir  Tristram ;  "  send  ye  for  him, 
my  lady  Isolde,  and  I  will  not  be  seen,  and  ye  shall  hear 
the  merriest  knight  that  ever  ye  spake  withal,  and  the 
maddest  talker,  and  I  pray  you  heartily  that  ye  make  him 
good  cheer." 

Then  anon  la  Belle  Isolde  sent  into  the  town,  and 
prayed  Sir  Dinadan  that  he  would  come  into  the  castle 
and  rest  him  there  with  a  lady. 

"  With  a  good  will,"  said  Sir  Dinadan ;  and  so  he 
mounted  upon  his  horse,  and  rode  into  the  castle;  and 
there  he  alighted,  and  was  unarmed  and  brought  into  the 
castle.  Anon  la  Belle  Isolde  came  unto  him,  and  either 
saluted  other.  Then  she  asked  him  of  whence  he  was. 

"Madam,"  said  Sir  Dinadan,  "I  am  of  King  Arthur's 
court,  and  knight  of  the  Round  Table,  and  my  name  is 
Sir  Dinadan." 

"What  do  ye  in  this  country?"  said  la  Belle  Isolde. 

"  Madam,"  said  he,  "  I  seek  the  noble  knight  Sir  Tris- 
tram, for  it  was  told  me  that  he  was  in  this  country." 

"It  may  well  be,"  said  la  Belle  Isolde,  "but  I  am  not 
ware  of  him." 

"  Madam,"  said  Sir  Dinadan,  "  I  marvel  of  Sir  Tristram 
and  moe  other  lovers,  what  aileth  them  to  be  so  mad  and 
so  assotted  upon  women." 

"  Why,"  said  la  Belle  Isolde,  "  are  ye  a  knight  and  be 
ye  no  lover  ?  it  is  a  shame  unto  you ;  wherefore  ye  may 
not  be  called  a  good  knight,  but  if  that  ye  make  a  quarrel 
for  a  lady." 

"God  defend  me,"  said  Sir  Dinadan,  "for  the  joy  of 
love  is  too  short,  and  the  sorrow  and  what  cometh  thereof 
endureth  over  long." 

"  Ah ! "  said  la  Belle  Isolde,  "  say  ye  not  so,  for  here 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  23 1 

fast  by  was  the  good  knight  Sir  Bleoberis,  which  fought 
with  three  knights  at  once  for  a  damsel's  sake,  and  he 
won  her  before  the  king  of  Northumberland." 

"It  was  so,"  said  Sir  Dinadan,  "for  I  know  him  well  for 
a  good  knight  and  a  noble,  and  come  of  noble  blood ;  for 
all  be  noble  knights  of  whom  he  is  come  of,  that  is  Sir 
Launcelot  du  Lake." 

"Now  I  pray  you,"  said  a  Belle  Isolde,  "tell  me  will 
ye  fight  for  my  love  with  three  knights  that  did  me  great 
wrong  ?  and  insomuch  as  ye  be  a  knight  of  King  Arthur's 
court,  I  require  you  to  do  battle  for  me." 

Then  Sir  Dinadan  said,  "  I  shall  say  unto  you,  ye  are  as 
fair  a  lady  as  ever  I  saw  any,  and  much  fairer  than  is  my 
lady  Queen  Guenever ;  but  wit  ye  well  at  one  word  that 
I  will  not  fight  for  you  with  three  knights,  Jesu  defend 
me." 

Then  Isolde  laughed,  and  had  good  game  at  him.  So 
he  had  all  the  cheer  that  she  might  make  him ;  and  there 
he  lay  all  that  night.  And  on  the  morn  early  Sir  Tris- 
tram armed  him,  and  la  Belle  Isolde  gave  him  a  good 
helm  ;  and  then  he  promised  her  that  he  would  meet  with 
Sir  Dinadan,  and  they  two  would  ride  together  unto  Lona- 
zep,  where  the  tournament  should  be,  "  and  there  shall  I 
make  ready  for  you,  where  ye  shall  see  the  tournament." 
Then  departed  Sir  Tristram  with  two  squires  that  bare 
his  shield  and  his  spears  that  were  great  and  long. 


232  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER  XLII. 

HOW  SIR  DlNADAN  MET  WITH  SlR  TRISTRAM,  AND  WITH  JOUSTING  WITH 

SIR  PALAMIDES  SIR  DINADAN  KNEW  HIM. 

THEN  after  that,  Sir  Dinadan  departed  and  rode  his 
way  a  great  pace  until  he  had  overtaken  Sir  Tris- 
tram. And  when  Sir  Dinadan  had  overtaken  him,  he 
knew  him  anon,  and  he  hated  the  fellowship  of  him 
above  all  other  knights. 

"  Ah/'  said  Sir  Dinadan,  "  art  thou  that  coward  knight 
that  I  met  with  yesterday,  keep  thee,  for  thou  shalt  joust 
with  me,  maugre  thy  head." 

"Well,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "and  I  am  loth  to  joust." 

And  so  they  let  their  horses  run,  and  Sir  Tristram 
missed  of  him  a  purpose,  and  Sir  Dinadan  brake  a  spear 
upon  Sir  Tristram ;  and  therewith  Sir  Dinadan  dressed 
himself  to  draw  out  his  sword. 

"  Not  so,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  why  are  ye  so  wroth  ?  I 
will  not  fight." 

"  Fie  on  thee,  coward,"  said  Sir  Dinadan,  "  thou  shamest 
all  knights." 

"  As  for  that,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  I  care  not,  for  I  will 
wait  upon  you  and  be  under  your  protection,  for  because 
ye  are  so  good  a  knight  ye  may  save  me." 

"  The  devil  deliver  me  of  thee,"  said  Sir  Dinadan,  "  for 
thou  art  as  goodly  a  man  of  arms  and  of  thy  person  as 
ever  I  saw,  and  the  most  coward  that  ever  I  saw.  What 
wilt  thou  do  with  those  great  spears  that  thou  earnest 
with  thee?" 

"I  shall  give  them,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "to  some  good 
knight  when  I  come  to  the  tournament ;  and  if  I  see  you 
do  best  I  shall  give  them  to  you." 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  233 

So  thus  as  they  rode  talking  they  saw  where  came  an 
errant  knight  afore  them  dressing  him  for  to  joust. 

"Lo,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "yonder  is  one  will  joust; 
now  dress  thee  to  him." 

"  Ah  \  shame  betide  thee ! "  said  Sir  Dinadan. 

"Nay,  not  so,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "for  that  knight 
seemeth  a  shrew." 

"Then  shall  I,"  said  Sir  Dinadan. 

And  so  they  dressed  their  shields  and  their  spears,  and 
they  met  together  so  hard  that  the  other  knight  smote 
down  Sir  Dinadan  from  his  horse. 

"  Lo,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  it  had  been  better  that  ye 
had  left." 

"  Fie  on  thee,  coward ! "  said  Sir  Dinadan. 

Then  Sir  Dinadan  started  up,  and  gat  his  sword  in  his 
hand,  and  proffered  to  do  battle  on  foot. 

"  Whether  in  love  or  in  wrath  ? "  said  the  other  knight. 

"  Let  us  do  battle  in  love,"  said  Sir  Dinadan. 

"What  is  your  name?"  said  that  knight,  "I  pray  you 
tell  me." 

"  Wit  ye  well  my  name  is  Sir  Dinadan." 

"Ah,  Sir  Dinadan,"  said  that  knight,  "and  my  name 
is  Sir  Gareth,  the  youngest  brother  unto  Sir  Gawaine." 

Then  either  made  of  other  great  joy,  for  this  Sir  Gareth 
was  the  best  knight  of  all  those  brethren,  and  he  proved  a 
full  good  knight.  Then  they  took  their  horses,  and  there 
they  spake  of  Sir  Tristram,  how  he  was  such  a  coward 
And  every  word  Sir  Tristram  heard,  and  laughed  them  to 
scorn.  Then  were  they  ware  where  there  came  a  knight 
before  them  well  horsed  and  well  armed. 

"  Fair  knights,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  look  between  you 
who  shall  joust  with  yonder  knight,  for  I  warn  you  I  wil 
not  have  to  do  with  him." 


234  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"Then  shall  I,"  said  Sir  Gareth. 

And  so  they  encountered  together,  and  there  that 
knight  smote  down  Sir  Gareth  over  his  horse's  crupper. 

"  How  now  ? "  said  Sir  Tristram  unto  Sir  Dinadan, 
"dress  thee  now,  and  revenge  the  good  knight  Sir 
Gareth." 

"That  shall  I  not,"  said  Sir  Dinadan,  "for  he  hath 
stricken  down  a  much  bigger  knight  than  I  am." 

"  Ah ! "  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  now  Sir  Dinadan,  I  see 
and  perceive  full  well  that  your  heart  faileth  you,  there- 
fore now  shall  ye  see  what  I  shall  do." 

And  then  Sir  Tristram  hurled  unto  that  knight,  and 
smote  him  quite  from  his  horse.  And  when  Sir  Dina- 
dan saw  that,  he  marvelled  greatly,  and  then  he  deemed 
in  himself  that  it  was  Sir  Tristram.  Then  this  knight 
that  was  on  foot  pulled  out  his  sword  to  do  battle. 

"  What  is  your  name  ? "  said  Sir  Tristram. 

"Wit  ye  well,"  said  the  knight,  "my  name  is  Sir  Pala- 
mides." 

"  What  knight  hate  ye  most  ? "  said  Sir  Tristram. 

"  Sir  knight,"  said  he,  "  I  hate  Sir  Tristram  to  the 
death,  for  and  I  may  meet  with  him  the  one  of  us  shall 
die." 

"Ye  say  well,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "and wit  ye  well  that 
I  am  Sir  Tristram  de  Lyonesse,  and  now  do  your  worst." 

When  Sir  Palamides  heard  him  say  so  he  was  aston- 
ished, and  then  he  said  thus,  "  I  pray  you,  Sir  Tristram, 
forgive  me  all  mine  evil  will,  and  if  I  live  I  shall  do  you 
service  above  all  other  knights  that  be  living,  and  there  as 
I  have  owed  you  evil  will  me  sore  repenteth.  I  wot  not 
what  aileth  me,  for  me  seemeth  that  ye  are  a  good  knight, 
and  none  other  knight  that  named  himself  a  good  knight 
should  not  hate  you  ;  therefore  I  require  you,  Sir  Tris- 
tram, take  no  displeasure  at  mine  unkind  words." 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  235 

"Sir  Palamides,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "ye  say  well,  and 
well  I  wot  ye  are  a  good  knight,  for  I  have  seen  you 
proved,  and  many  great  enterprises  have  ye  taken  upon 
you,  and  well  achieved  them ;  therefore,"  said  Sir  Tris- 
tram, "  and  ye  have  any  evil  will  to  me,  now  may  ye  right 
it,  for  I  am  ready  at  your  hand." 

"  Not  so,  my  lord  Sir  Tristram ;  I  will  do  you  knightly 
service  in  all  things  as  ye  will  command." 

"  And  right  so  I  will  take  you,"  said  Sir  Tristram. 

And  so  they  rode  forth  on  their  ways,  talking  of  many 
things. 

"  Oh  my  lord  Sir  Tristram,"  said  Dinadan,  "  foul  have 
ye  mocked  me,  for  truly  I  came  into  this  country  for  your 
sake,  and  by  the  advice  of  my  lord  Sir  Launcelot,  and  yet 
would  not  Sir  Launcelot  tell  me  the  certainty  of  you, 
where  I  should  find  you." 

"Truly,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "Sir  Launcelot  wist  well 
where  I  was,  for  I  abode  within  his  own  castle." 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 

HOW  THEY  APPROACHED  THE  CASTLE  OF  LONAZEP,  AND  OF  OTHER 
DEVICES  OF  THE  DEATH  OF  SIR  LAMORAK. 

'THHUS  they  rode  until  they  were  ware  of  the  Castle  of 
J-  Lonazep,  and  then  were  they  ware  of  four  hundred 
tents  and  pavilions,  and  marvellous  great  ordinance.  "  So 
God  me  help,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  yonder  I  see  the  great- 
est ordinance  that  ever  I  saw." 

"  Sir,"  said  Sir  Palamides,  "  me  seemeth  there  was  as 
great  an  ordinance  at  the  Castle  of  Maidens  upon  the 
rock,  where  ye  won  the  prize,  for  I  saw  myself  where  ye 
forj ousted  thirty  knights." 


236  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"Sir,"  said  Sir  Dinadan,  "and  in  Surluse,  at  that  tour- 
nament  that  Sir  Galahalt  of  the  long  isles  made,  the  which 
lasted  seven  days,  was  as  great  a  gathering  as  is  here,  for 
there  were  many  nations." 

"  Who  was  the  best  ? "  said  Sir  Tristram. 

"Sir,  it  was  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  and  the  noble 
knight  Sir  Lamorak  de  Galis ;  Sir  Launcelot  won  the  de- 
gree." 

"I  doubt  not,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "but  he  won  the 
degree,  so  that  he  had  not  been  overmatched  with  many 
knights.  And  of  the  death  of  Sir  Lamorak,"  said  Sir  Tris- 
tram, "  it  was  over  great  pity,  for  I  dare  say  that  he  was 
the  cleanest  mighted  man,  and  the  best  winded  of  his  age 
that  was  on  live,  for  I  knew  him  that  he  was  the  biggest 
knight  that  ever  I  met  withal,  but  if  it  were  Sir  Launce- 
lot. Alas ! "  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  full  woe  is  me  of  his 
death,  and,  if  they  were  all  the  cousins  of  my  lord  King 
Arthur  that  slew  him,  they  should  die  for  it,  and  all  those 
that  were  consenting  to  his  death.  And  for  such  things," 
said  Sir  Tristram,  "I  fear  to  draw  unto  the  court  of 
my  lord  King  Arthur.  I  will  that  ye  wit  it,"  said  Sir 
Tristram  to  Sir  Gareth. 

"Sir,  I  blame  you  not,"  said  Sir  Gareth,  "for  well  I 
understand  the  vengeance  of  my  brethren  Sir  Gawaine, 
Sir  Agravaine,  Sir  Gaheris,  and  Sir  Mordred ;  but  for 
me,"  said  Gareth,  "I  meddle  not  of  their  matters,  there- 
fore  there  is  none  of  them  that  loveth  me,  and,  for  I  under- 
stand they  be  murderers  of  good  knights,  I  left  their 
company,  and  would  God  I  had  been  by,"  said  Sir  Gareth, 
"when  the  noble  knight  Sir  Lamorak  was  slain." 

"Now  as  Jesu  be  my  help,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "it  is 
well  said  of  you,  for  I  had  liever  than  all  the  gold  between 
this  and  Rome  I  had  been  there." 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  237 

"Truly,"  said  Sir  Palamides,  "I  would  I  had  been 
there,  and  yet  I  had  never  the  degree  at  no  jousts  *here 
as  he  was,  but  he  put  me  to  the  worse  on  foot  or  on 
horseback,  and  that  day  that  he  was  slain  he  did  the  most 
deeds  of  arms  that  ever  I  saw  knight  do  all  the  days  of 
my  life.  And  when  the  degree  was  given  him  by  my  lord 
King  Arthur,  Sir  Gawaine  and  his  three  brethren,  Sir 
Agravaine,  Sir  Gaheris,  and  Sir  Mordred,  set  upon  Sir 
Lamorak  in  a  privy  place,  and  there  they  slew  his  horse, 
and  so  they  fought  with  him  on  foot  more  than  three 
hours,  both  before  him  and  behind  him.  And  Sir  Mor- 
dred gave  him  his  death  wound  behind  him  at  his  back, 
and  all  to-hewed  him ;  for  one  of  his  squires  told  me  that 
saw  it." 

"  Fie  upon  treason,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  for  it  killeth 
my  heart  to  hear  this  tale." 

"  So  doth  it  mine,"  said  Sir  Gareth ;  "  brethren  as  they 
be  mine,  I  shall  never  love  them  nor  draw  me  to  their 
fellowship  for  that  deed." 

"  Now  speak  we  of  other  deeds,"  said  Sir  Palamides, 
"and  let  him  be,  for  his  life  ye  may  not  get  again." 

"That  is  the  more  pity,"  said  Sir  Dinadan,  "for  Sir 
Gawaine  and  his  brethren  (except  you,  Sir  Gareth)  hate 
all  the  good  knights  of  the  Round  Table  for  the  most 
part ;  for  well  I  wot,  and  they  might  privily,  they  hate 
my  lord  Sir  Launcelot  and  all  his  kin,  and  great  privy 
despite  they  have  at  him,  and  that  is  my  lord  Sir  Launce- 
lot well  ware  of,  and  that  causeth  him  to  have  the  good 
knights  of  his  kindred  about  him." 


238  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER   XLIV. 

HOW   THEY    CAME    TO    HUMBER    BANK,  AND    HOW  THEY    FOUND  A   SHU 
THERE,  WHEREIN   LAY  THE   BODY  OF  KlNG   HERMANCE. 

SIR,"  said  Palamides,  "let  us  leave  off  this  matter,  and 
let  us  see  how  we  shall  do  at  this  tournament.  By 
mine  advice,"  said  Palamides,  "  let  us  four  hold  together 
against  all  that  will  come." 

"  Not  by  my  counsel,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "for  I  see  by 
their  pavilions  there  will  be  four  hundred  knights,  and 
doubt  ye  not,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "but  there  will  be  many 
good  knights,  and  be  a  man  never  so  valiant  nor  so  big 
yet  he  may  be  over-matched.  And  so  I  have  seen  knights 
done  many  times  :  and  when  they  wend  best  to  have  won 
worship  they  lost  it.  For  manhood  is  not  worth  but  if  it 
be  meddled  [mingled]  with  wisdom  :  and  as  for  me,"  said 
Sir  Tristram,  "  it  may  happen  I  shall  keep  mine  own  head 
as  well  as  another." 

So  thus  they  rode  until  that  they  came  to  Humber 
bank,  where  they  heard  a  cry  and  a  doleful  noise.  Then 
were  they  ware  in  the  wind  where  came  a  rich  vessel 
covered  over  with  red  silk,  and  the  vessel  landed  fast  by 
them.  Therewith  Sir  Tristram  alighted  and  his  knights. 
And  so  Sir  Tristram  went  afore  and  entered  into  that 
vessel.  And  when  he  came  within,  he  saw  a  fair  bed 
richly  covered,  and  thereupon  lay  a  dead  seemly  knight, 
all  armed,  save  the  head  was  all  be-bled,  with  deadly 
wounds  upon  him:  the  which  seemed  to  be  a  passing 
good  knight. 

"How  may  this  be,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "that  this 
knight  is  thus  slain  ? "  Then  Sir  Tristram  was  ware  of 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  239 

a  letter  in  the  dead  knight's  hand.  "  Master  mariners," 
said  Sir  Tristram,  "  what  meaneth  that  letter  ? " 

"  Sir,"  said  they,  "  in  that  letter  ye  shall  hear  and  know 
how  he  was  slain,  and  for  what  cause,  and  what  was  his 
name ;  but,  sir,"  said  the  mariners,  "  wit  ye  well  that  no 
man  shall  take  that  letter  and  read  it  but  if  he  be  a  good 
knight,  and  that  he  will  faithfully  promise  to  revenge  his 
death,  else  shall  there  no  knight  see  that  letter  open." 

"Wit  ye  well,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "that  some  of  us 
may  revenge  his  death  as  well  as  others  ;  and  if  it  be  as 
ye  say  it  shall  be  revenged."  And  therewith  Sir  Tristram 
took  the  letter  out  of  the  knight's  hand,  and  it  said  thus  : 
"  Hermance,  king  and  lord  of  the  Red  City,  I  send  to 
all  knights  errant  recommendation,  and  unto  you,  noble 
knights  of  King  Arthur's  court,  I  beseech  them  all  among 
them  to  find  one  knight  that  will  fight  for  my  sake  with 
two  brethren,  that  I  brought  up  of  nought,  and  feloniously 
and  traitorously  they  have  slain  me,  wherefore  I  beseech 
one  good  knight  to  revenge  my  death  ;  and  he  that  re- 
vengeth  my  death  I  will  that  he  have  my  Red  City  and 
all  my  castles." 

"  Sir,"  said  the  mariners,  "  wit  ye  well  this  king  and 
knight  that  here  lieth  was  a  full  worshipful  man,  and  of 
full  great  prowess,  and  full  well  he  loved  all  manner  of 
knights  errant." 

"Truly,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "here  is  a  piteous  case, 
and  full  fain  I  would  take  this  enterprise  upon  me,  but  I 
have  made  such  a  promise  that  needs  I  must  be  at  this 
great  tournament  or  else  I  am  shamed.  For  well  I  wot 
for  my  sake  in  especial  my  lord  Arthur  let  make  this 
jousts  and . tournament  in  this  country;  and  well  I  wot 
that  many  worshipful  people  will  be  there  at  that  tourna- 
ment for  to  see  me.  Therefore  I  fear  me  to  take  this 


240  The  Boy*s  King  Arthur. 


enterprise  upon  me,  that  I  shall  not  come  again  betimes 
to  this  jousts." 

"  Sir,"  said  Palamides,  "  I  pray  you  give  me  this  enter- 
prise, and  ye  shall  see  me  achieve  it  worshipfully,  or  else 
I  shall  die  in  this  quarrel." 

"Well,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "and  this  enterprise  I  give 
you,  with  this  that  ye  be  with  me  at  this  tournament, 
that  shall  be  as  at  this  day  seven  night." 

"  Sir,"  said  Palamides,  "  I  promise  you  that  I  shall  be 
with  you  by  that  day  if  I  be  unslain  or  unmaimed." 


CHAPTER  XLV. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  WITH  HIS  FELLOWSHIP  CAME  AND  WERE  WITH  AN 
HOST  WHICH  AFTER  FOUGHT  WITH  SlR  TRISTRAM;  AND  OTHER 
MATTERS. 

THEN  departed  Sir  Tristram,  Gareth,  and  Sir  Dina- 
dan,  and  left  Sir  Palamides  in  the  vessel ;  and  so 
Sir  Tristram  beheld  the  mariners  how  they  sailed  along 
Humber.  And  when  Sir  Palamides  was  out  of  their 
sight,  they  took  their  horses,  and  beheld  about  them. 
And  then  were  they  ware  of  a  knight  that  came  riding 
against  them  unarmed,  and  nothing  about  him  but  a 
sword.  And  when  this  knight  came  nigh  them  he  saluted 
them,  and  they  him  again. 

"  Fair  knights,"  said  that  knight,  "  I  pray  you  insomuch 
as  ye  be  knights  errant,  that  ye  will  come  and  see  my 
castle,  and  take  such  as  ye  find  there;  I  pray  you 
heartily." 

And  so  they  rode  with  him  into  his  castle ;  and  there 
they  were  brought  to  the  hall,  that  was  well  apparelled, 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  241 

and  so  they  were  unarmed  and  set  at  a  board.  And  when 
this  knight  saw  Sir  Tristram,  anon  he  knew  him ;  and 
then  this  knight  waxed  pale  and  wroth  at  Sir  Tristram. 
When  Sir  Tristram  saw  his  host  make  such  cheer,  he 
marvelled  greatly,  and  said,  "  Sir  mine  host,  what  cheer 
make  ye  ? " 

"  Wit  thou  well,"  said  he,  "  I  fare  much  the  worse  for 
thee;  for  I  know  thee  well,  Sir  Tristram  de  Lyonesse, 
thou  slewest  my  brother,  and  therefore  I  give  thee  sum- 
mons that  I  will  slay  thee  and  I  may  get  thee  at  large." 

"Sir  knight,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "I  am  not  advised 
that  ever  I  slew  any  brother  of  yours ;  and  if  ye  say  that 
I  did  it,  I  will  make  you  amends  unto  my  power." 

"I  will  none  of  your  amends,"  said  the  knight,  "but 
keep  thee  from  me." 

So  when  he  had  dined,  Sir  Tristram  asked  his  arms  and 
departed ;  and  so  they  rode  forth  on  their  way.  And 
within  a  little  while  Sir  Dinadan  saw  where  came  a  knight 
riding  all  armed  and  well  horsed  without  shield. 

"  Sir  Tristram,"  said  Sir  Dinadan,  "  take  heed  to  your- 
self, for  I  undertake  that  yonder  cometh  your  host  that 
will  have  to  do  with  you." 

"  Let  him  come,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  I  shall  abide  him 
as  well  as  I  may." 

Anon  that  knight  when  he  came  nigh  Sir  Tristram  he 
cried  to  him,  and  bade  him  abide  and  keep  him  well.  So 
they  hurled  together,  but  Sir  Tristram  smote  the  other 
knight  so  sore  that  he  bare  him  to  the  ground.  And  that 
knight  arose  lightly,  and  took  his  horse  again,  and  so  rode 
fiercely  to  Sir  Tristram,  and  smote  him  twice  full  hard 
upon  the  helm.  "  Sir  knight,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  I  pray 
you  to  leave  off  and  smite  me  no  more,  for  I  would  be 
"oth  to  deal  with  you  and  I  might  choose,  for  I  have 


242  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

your  meat  and  your  drink  within  my  body."  For  all  that 
he  would  not  leave ;  and  then  Sir  Tristram  gave  him  such 
a  buffet  upon  the  helm  that  he  tumbled  upside  down 
from  his  horse,  that  the  blood  brast  out  at  the  ventails 
of  his  helm ;  and  there  he  lay  still  likely  to  have  died. 
Then  Sir  Tristram  said,  "  Me  repenteth  sore  of  this  buffet 
that  I  smote  so  sore,  for,  as  I  suppose,  he  is  dead." 

And  so  they  departed  and  rode  forth  on  their  way.  So 
they  had  not  ridden  but  a  while  but  they  saw  coming 
against  them  two  full  likely  knights,  well  armed  and 
horsed,  and  goodly  servants  about  them.  The  one  was 
called  the  king  with  the  hundred  knights,  and  that  other 
was  Sir  Segwarides,  which  were  renowned  two  noble 
knights.  So  as  they  came  either  by  other,  the  king 
looked  upon  Sir  Dinadan,  which  at  that  time  had  Sir 
Tristram's  helm  upon  his  shoulder,  which  helm  the  king 
had  seen  before  with  the  queen  of  Northwales,  and  that 
helm  the  queen  of  Northwales  had  given  unto  la  Belle 
Isolde,  and  the  Queen  la  Belle  Isolde  gave  it  unto  Sir 
Tristram. 

"Sir  knight,"  said  [the  king],  "where  had  ye  that 
helm?" 

"  What  would  ye  ? "  said  Sir  Dinadan. 

"For  I  will  have  ado  with  thee,"  said  the  king,  "for 
the  love  of  her  that  owned  that  helm,  and  therefore  keep 
you." 

So  they  departed  and  came  together  with  all  the  mights 
of  their  horses ;  and  there  the  king  with  the  hundred 
knights  smote  Sir  Dinadan,  horse  and  all,  to  the  earth ; 
and  then  he  commanded  his  servant,  "  Go  and  take  thou 
his  helm  off,  and  keep  it." 

So  the  varlet  went  to  unbuckle  his  helm. 

"  What  helm  ?  What  wilt  thou  do  ? "  said  Sir  Tristram  ; 
"leave  that  helm." 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  243 


"  To  what  intent,"  said  the  king,  "  will  ye,  sir  knight, 
meddle  with  that  helm  ? " 

"Wit  you  well,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "that  helm  shall 
not  depart  from  me,  or  it  be  dearer  bought." 

"  Then  make  you  ready,"  said  [the  king]  unto  Sir  Tris- 
tram. 

So  they  hurtled  together,  and  there  Sir  Tristram  smote 
him  down  over  his  horse's  tail.  And  then  the  king  arose 
lightly,  and  gat  his  horse  lightly  again,  and  then  he  struck 
fiercely  at  Sir  Tristram  many  great  strokes.  And  then 
Sir  Tristram  gave  [the  king]  such  a  buffet  upon  the  helm 
that  he  fell  down  over  his  horse,  sore  stunned. 

"Lo,"  said  Sir  Dinadan,  "that  helm  is  unhappy  to  us 
twain,  for  I  had  a  fall  for  it,  and  now,  sir  king,  have  ye 
another  fall." 

Then  Segwarides  asked,  "Who  shall  joust  with  me  ?" 

"  I  pray  thee,"  said  Sir  Gareth  unto  Dinadan,  "  let  me 
have  this  jousts." 

"Sir,"  said  Dinadan,  "I  pray  you  take  it  as  for  me." 

"That  is  no  reason,"  said  Tristram,  "for  this  jousts 
should  be  yours." 

"At  a  word,"  said  Sir  Dinadan,  "I  will  not  thereof." 

Then  Gareth  dressed  him  to  Sir  Segwarides,  and  there 
Sir  Segwarides  smote  Sir  Gareth  and  his  horse  to  the 
earth. 

"Now,"  said  Sir  Tristram  to  Dinadan,  "joust  with 
yonder  knight." 

"  I  will  not  thereof,"  said  Dinadan. 

"  Then  will  I,"  said  Sir  Tristram. 

And  then  Sir  Tristram  ran  to  him  and  gave  him  a  fall, 
and  so  they  left  them  on  foot.  And  Sir  Tristram  rode 
unto  Joyous  Gard,  and  there  Sir  Gareth  would  not  of  his 
courtesy  have  gone  into  the  castle,  but  Sir  Tristram 


244  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

would  not  suffer  him  to  depart;  and  so  they  alighted, 
and  unarmed  them,  and  had  there  great  cheer.  But  when 
Sir  Dinadan  came  afore  la  Belle  Isolde,  he  cursed  the 
time  that  ever  he  bare  the  helm  of  Sir  Tristram,  and  there 
he  told  her  how  Sir  Tristram  had  mocked  him.  Then 
was  there  good  laughing  and  sport  at  Sir  Dinadan,  that 
they  wist  not  what  to  do  to  keep  them  from  laughing. 


CHAPTER  XLVI. 

How  SIR  PALAMIDES  WENT  FOR  TO  FIGHT  WITH  Two  BRETHREN  FOR 
THE  DEATH  OF  KING  HERMANCE. 

NOW  will  we  leave  them  merry  within  Joyous  Gard, 
and  speak  we  of  Sir  Palamides.  Then  Sir  Pala- 
mides  sailed  even  along  Humber  unto  the  coast  of  the 
sea,  where  was  a  fair  castle,  and  at  that  time  it  was  early 
in  the  morning  afore  day.  Then  the  mariners  went  unto 
Sir  Palamides,  that  was  fast  on  sleep :  "  Sir  knight,"  said 
the  mariners,  "  ye  must  arise,  for  here  is  a  castle  into  the 
which  ye  must  go." 

"  I  assent  me  therto,"  said  Sir  Palamides. 

And  therewithal  he  arrived ;  and  then  he  blew  his  horn, 
the  which  the  mariners  had  given  him.  And  when  they 
that  were  within  the  castle  heard  that  horn,  they  put  forth 
many  knights,  and  there  they  stood  upon  the  walls  and 
said  with  one  voice,  "Welcome  be  ye  to  this  castle." 
And  then  it  waxed  clear  day,  and  Sir  Palamides  entered 
into  the  castle.  And  within  a  while  he  was  served  with 
many  divers  meats.  Then  Sir  Palamides  heard  about  him 
much  weeping  and  great  dole.  "  What  may  this  mean  ? " 
said  Sir  Palamides :  "  I  love  not  to  hear  such  a  sorrow, 
and  fain  I  would  know  what  it  meaneth." 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  245 

Then  there  came  afore  him  one  whose  name  was  Sir 
Ebel,  that  said  thus,  "  Wit  ye  well,  sir  knight,  this  dole 
and  sorrow  is  here  made  every  day,  and  for  this  cause : 
we  had  a  king  that  hight  Herman ce,  and  he  was  king  of 
the  Red  City,  and  this  king  that  was  lord  was  a  noble 
knight,  large  and  liberal  of  his  expense.  And  in  the 
world  he  loved  nothing  so  much  as  he  did  errant  knights 
of  King  Arthur's  court,  and  all  jousting,  hunting,  and  all 
manner  of  knightly  games  ;  for  so  kind  a  king  and  knight 
had  never  the  rule  of  poor  people  as  he  was ;  and  because 
of  his  goodness  and  gentleness  we  bemoan  him  and  ever 
shall.  And  all  kings  and  estates  may  beware  by  our  lord, 
for  he  was  destroyed  in  his  own  default,  for  had  he 
cherished  them  of  his  blood  he  had  yet  lived  with  great 
riches  and  rest ;  but  all  estates  may  beware  of  our  king. 
But  alas,"  said  Ebel,  "  that  we  shall  give  all  other  warning 
by  his  death." 

"  Tell  me,"  said  Palamides,  "  in  what  manner  was  your 
lord  slain,  and  by  whom  ? " 

"  Sir,"  said  Sir  Ebel,  "  our  king  brought  up  of  children 
two  men  that  now  are  perilous  knights,  and  these  two 
knights  our  king  had  so  in  charity,  that  he  loved  no  man 
nor  trusted  no  man  of  his  blood,  nor  none  other  that  was 
about  him.  And  by  these  two  knights  our  king  was  gov- 
erned, and  so  they  ruled  him  peaceably,  and  his  lands,  and 
never  would  they  surfer  none  of  his  blood  to  have  no  rule 
with  our  king.  And  also  he  was  so  free  and  so  gentle, 
and  they  so  false  and  deceivable,  that  they  ruled  him 
peaceably ;  and  that  espied  the  lords  of  our  king's  blood, 
and  departed  from  him  unto  their  own  livelihood.  Then 
when  these  tw:>  traitors  understood  that  they  had  driven 
all  the  lords  of  his  blood  from  him,  they  were  not  pleased 
with  that  rule,  but  then  they  thought  to  have  more,  as 


246  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

ever  it  is  an  old  saw,  Give  a  churl  rule,  and  thereby  he 
will  not  be  sufficed ;  for  whatsoever  he  be  that  is  ruled  by 
a  villain  born,  and  the  lord  of  the  soil  to  be  a  gentleman 
born,  the  same  villain  shall  destroy  all  the  gentlemen 
about  him ;  therefore  all  estates  and  lords  beware  whom 
ye  take  about  you.  And  if  ye  be  a  knight  of  King  Ar- 
thur's court,  remember  this  tale,  for  this  is  the  end  and 
conclusion.  My  lord  and  king  rode  unto  the  forest  by  the 
advice  of  these  false  traitors,  and  there  he  chased  at  the 
red  deer,  all  armed  of  all  pieces,  full  like  a  good  knight ; 
and  so  for  labor  he  waxed  dry,  and  then  he  alighted  and 
drank  at  a  well.  And  when  he  was  alighted,  by  the 
assent  of  these  two  false  traitors,  the  one  that  hight 
Helius  suddenly  smote  our  king  through  the  body  with  a 
spear,  and  so  they  left  him  there ;  and  when  they  were 
departed,  then  by  fortune  I  came  unto  the  well  and  found 
my  lord  and  king  wounded  unto  the  death ;  and  when  I 
heard  his  complaint,  I  let  bring  him  to  the  water  side, 
and  in  that  same  ship  I  put  him  alive.  And  when  my 
lord  King  Hermance  was  in  that  vessel,  he  required  me 
for  the  true  faith  that  I  owed  unto  him  for  to  write  a 
letter  in  this  manner :  — 


CHAPTER  XLVII. 

CHE  COFY  OF  THE  LETTER  WRITTEN  FOR  TO  REVENGE  THE  KING'S 

DEATH,  AND  HOW  SIR  PALAMIDES  FOUGHT  FOR  TO  HAVE  THE  BATTLE. 


ECOMMENDING  unto  King  Arthur  and  unto  all 
JLV  the  knights  errant,  beseeching  them  all  in  so  much 
as  I,  King  Hermance,  king  of  the  Red  City,  thus  am  slain 
by  felony  and  treason,  through  two  knights  of  mine  own, 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  247 

and  of  mine  own  bringing  up  and  of  mine  own  making, 
that  some  worshipful  knight  will  revenge  my  death,  in  so 
much  as  I  have  been  ever  to  my  power  well  willing  unto 
King  Arthur's  court ;  and  who  that  will  adventure  his  life 
with  these  two  traitors  for  my  sake  in  one  battle,  I,  King 
Hermance,  king  of  the  Red  City,  freely  give  all  my  lands 
and  tenements  that  ever  I  possessed  in  all  my  life.  This 
letter,"  said  Sir  Ebel,  "  I  wrote  by  my  lord's  command- 
ment, and  then  he  received  his  Maker  [took  the  Holy  Com- 
munion]. And  when  he  was  dead,  he  commanded  me, 
or  ever  he  were  cold,  to  put  this  letter  fast  in  his  hand ; 
and  then  he  commanded  me  to  put  forth  that  same  vessel 
down  Humber,  and  I  should  give  these  mariners  in  com- 
mandment never  to  stint  until  that  they  came  unto  Lo- 
gris,  ''Here  all  the  noble  knights  shall  assemble  at  this 
time,  ^nd  there  shall  some  good  knight  have  pity  on  me 
to  revenge  my  death,  for  there  was  never  king  nor  lord 
falselier  ne  traitorlier  slain  than  I  am  here  to  my  death."1 

Thus  was  the  complaint  of  our  king  Hermance. 

"Now,"  said  Sir  Ebel,  "ye  know  all  how  our  lord  was 
betrayed,  we  require  you  for  God's  sake  have  pity  upon 
his  death,  and  worshipfully  revenge  his  death,  and  then 
may  ye  hold  all  these  lands.  For  we  all  wit  well  that,  and 
ye  may  slay  these  two  traitors,  the  Red  City  and  all  those 
that  be  therein  will  take  you  for  their  lord." 

"Truly,"  said  Sir  Palamides,  "it  grieveth  my  heart  for 
to  hear  you  tell  this  doleful  tale.  And  to  say  the  truth, 
I  saw  the  same  letter  that  ye  speak  of ;  and  one  cf  the 
best  knights  on  the  earth  read  that  letter  to  me,  and  by 
his  commandment  I  came  hither  to  revenge  your  king's 
death ;  and  therefore  have  done,  and  let  me  wit  where  I 
shall  find  those  traitors,  for  I  shall  never  be  at  case  in  my 
heart  till  that  I  be  in  hands  with  them." 


248  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"  Sir,"  said  Sir  Ebel,  "  then  take  your  ship  again,  and 
that  ship  must  bring  you  unto  the  Delectable  Isle,  fast  by 
the  Red  City,  and  we  in  this  castle  shall  pray  for  you  and 
abide  your  again-coming ;  for  this  same  castle,  and  ye 
speed  well,  must  needs  be  yours ;  for  our  king  Hermance 
let  make  this  castle  for  the  love  of  the  two  traitors,  and 
so  we  kept  it  with  strong  hand,  and  therefore  full  sore  arc 
we  threated." 

"Wot  ye  what  ye  shall  do,"  said  Sir  Palamides ;  "what- 
soever come  of  me,  look  ye  keep  well  this  castle.  For, 
and  it  misfortune  me  so  to  be  slain  in  this  quest,  I  am 
sure  there  will  come  one  of  the  best  knights  of  the  world 
for  to  revenge  my  death,  and  that  is  Sir  Tristram  de 
Lyonesse,  or  else  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake." 

Then  Sir  Palamides  departed  from  that  castle.  And  as 
he  came  nigh  unto  the  city,  there  came  out  of  a  ship  a 
goodly  knight  all  armed  against  him,  with  his  shield  upon 
his  shoulder,  and  his  hand  upon  his  sword ;  and  anon  as 
he  came  nigh  Sir  Palamides,  he  said,  "  Sir  knight,  what 
seek  ye  here  in  this  country  ?  leave  this  quest,  for  it  is 
mine,  and  mine  it  was  or  it  was  yours,  and  therefore  I  will 
have  it." 

"  Sir  knight,"  said  Sir  Palamides,  "  it  may  well  be  that 
this  quest  was  yours  or  it  was  mine,  but  when  the  letter 
was  taken  out  of  the  dead  king's  hand,  at  that  time  by 
likelihood  there  was  no  knight  had  undertaken  to  re- 
venge the  death  of  King  Hermance ;  and  so  at  that  time 
I  promised  to  revenge  his  death,  and  so  I  shall,  or  else  I 
am  shamed." 

"  Ye  say  well,"  said  the  knight,  "  but  wit  ye  well  then 
will  I  fight  with  you,  and  he  that  is  the  better  knight  of 
us  both  let  him  take  the  battle  in  hand." 

"  I  assent  me,"  said  Sir  Palamides. 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  249 

And  then  they  dressed  their  shields,  and  drew  out  their 
swords,  and  lashed  together  many  a  sad  stroke,  as  men  of 
might,  and  thus  they  fought  more  than  an  hour.  And  at 
the  last  Sir  Palamides  waxed  big  and  better  winded,  so 
that  then  he  smote  that  knight  such  a  stroke  that  he 
made  him  to  kneel  upon  both  his  knees.  Then  that 
knight  spoke  on  high  and  said,  "Gentle  knight,  hold 
thy  hand." 

Sir  Palamides  was  courteous  and  withdrew  his  hand. 

Then  this  knight  said,  "  Wit  ye  well,  sir  knight,  that  ye 
be  better  worthy  to  have  this  battle  than  I,  and  I  require 
thee  of  thy  knighthood  to  tell  me  thy  name." 

"Sir,  my  name  is  Sir  Palamides,  a  knight  of  King 
Arthur's  court  and  of  the  Round  Table,  that  hither  am 
come  to  revenge  the  death  of  this  dead  king." 


CHAPTER  XLVIII. 

OF  THE  PREPARATION  OF  SIR  PALAMIDES  AND  THE  Two  BRETHREN  THAT 

SHOULD  FIGHT  WITH  HIM. 

AH,  well  be  ye  found,"  said  the  knight  unto  Sir  Pala- 
mides, "  for  of  all  knights  that  be  now  living  (except 
three)  I  had  lievest  have  you.  The  first  is  Sir  Launcelot 
du  Lake,  the  second  is  Sir  Tristram  de  Lyonesse,  and  the 
third  Sir  Lamorak  de  Galis ;  and  I  am  brother  unto  King 
Hermance  that  is  dead,  and  my  name  is  Sir  Hermind." 

"  It  is  well  said,"  quoth  Sir  Palamides,  "  and  ye  shall  see 
how  I  shall  speed ;  and  if  I  be  there  slain,  go  ye  unto  my 
lord  Sir  Launcelot  or  unto  my  lord  Sir  Tristram,  and  pray 
them  to  revenge  my  death,  for  as  for  Sir  Lamorak,  him 
shall  ye  never  see  in  this  world." 


250  The  Boy's  King  Arthur 

"Alas,"  said  Sir  Hermind,  "how  may  that  be?" 

"  He  is  slain,"  said  Sir  Palamides,  "  by  Sir  Gawaine  and 
his  brethren." 

"Truly,"  said  Hermind,  "there  was  not  one  for  one 
that  slew  him." 

"That  is  truth,"  said  Sir  Palamides,  "for  they  were 
four  dangerous  knights  that  slew  him,  as  Sir  Gawaine,  Sir 
Agravaine,  Sir  Gaheris,  and  Sir  Mordred  ;  but  Sir  Gareth, 
the  fifth  brother,  was  away,  the  best  knight  of  them  all." 

And  so  Sir  Palamides  told  Hermind  all  the  manner,  and 
how  they  slew  Sir  Lamorak  all  only  by  treason.  So  Sir 
Palamides  took  his  ship,  and  arrived  up  at  the  Delectable 
Isle.  And  in  the  meanwhile  Sir  Hermind,  that  was  the 
king's  brother,  he  arrived  up  at  the  Red  City,  and  there 
he  told  them  how  there  was  come  a  knight  of  King  Ar- 
thur's to  avenge  King  Hermance's  death ;  and  his  name 
is  Sir  Palamides  the  good  knight.  Then  all  the  city  made 
great  joy.  For  mickle  had  they  heard  of  Sir  Palamides, 
and  of  his  noble  prowess.  So  let  they  ordain  a  messenger 
and  sent  unto  the  two  brethren,  and  bade  them  to  make 
them  ready,  for  there  was  a  knight  come  that  would  fight 
with  them  both.  So  the  messenger  went  unto  them 
where  they  were  at  a  castle  there  beside.  And  there  he 
told  them  how  there  was  a  knight  come  of  King  Arthur's 
court  to  fight  with  them  both  at  once. 

"He  is  welcome,"  said  they.  "But  tell  us,  we  pray 
you,  if  it  be  Sir  Launcelot,  or  any  of  his  blood." 

"  He  is  none  of  that  blood,"  said  the  messenger. 

"  Then  we  care  the  less,"  said  the  two  brethren,  "  for 
with  none  of  the  blood  of  Sir  Launcelot  we  keep  not  to 
have  to  do  withal." 

"Wit  ye  well,"  said  the  messenger,  "that  his  name  is 
Sir  Palamides,  the  which  is  not  yet  christened,  a  noble 
knight." 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  251 

"  Well/'  said  they,  "  and  if  he  be  now  unchristened,  he 
shall  never  be  christened." 

So  they  appointed  for  to  be  at  the  city  within  two  days. 
And  when  Sir  Palamides  was  come  unto  the  city,  they 
made  passing  great  joy  of  him.  And  when  they  beheld 
him,  [they]  saw  that  he  was  well  made,  cleanly  and  bigly, 
and  unmaimed  of  his  limbs,  and  neither  too  young  nor  too 
old,  and  so  all  the  people  praised  him ;  and  though  he 
was  not  christened,  yet  he  believed  in  the  best  manner, 
and  was  faithful  and  true  of  his  promise,  and  also  well 
conditioned ;  and  because  he  made  his  avow  never  to  take 
full  Christendom  unto  the  time  that  he  had  done  seven 
battles  within  the  lists. 

So  within  the  third  day  there  came  to  this  city  these 
two  brethren,  the  one  hight  Sir  Helius,  and  that  other 
hight  Sir  Helake,  the  which  were  men  of  great  prowess, 
howbeit  they  were  false  and  full  of  treason,  and  but  poor 
men  born,  yet  were  they  noble  knights  of  their  hands. 

And  with  them  they  brought  forty  knights,  to  the  in- 
tent they  should  be  big  enough  for  the  Red  City.  Thus 
came  the  two  brethren  with  great  bobance  [boasting]  and 
pride,  for  they  had  put  the  Red  City  in  fear  and  damage. 
Then  they  were  brought  into  the  lists ;  and  Sir  Palamides 
came  into  the  place,  and  thus  he  said,  "  Be  ye  the  two 
brethren,  Sir  Helius  and  Sir  Helake,  that  slew  your  king 
and  lord  Sir  Hermance  by  felony  and  treason,  for  whom  I 
am  come  hither  for  to  revenge  his  death  ? " 

"Wit  thou  well,"  said  Sir  Helius  and  Sir  Helake,  "that 
we  are  the  same  knights  that  slew  King  Hermance. 
And  wit  thou  well,  Sir  Palamides,  Saracen,  that  we  shall 
handle  thee  so  or  thou  depart  that  thou  shalt  wish  that 
thou  werest  christened." 

"It  may  well  be,"  said  Sir  Palamides,  "for  yet  I  would 


252  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

not  die  or  I  were  christened,  and  yet  so  am  I  not  afeared 
of  you  both,  but  I  trust  to  God  that  I  shall  die  a  better 
Christian  man  than  any  of  you  both ;  and  doubt  ye  not," 
said  Sir  Talamides,  "  either  ye  or  I  shall  be  left  dead  in 
this  place." 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 

OF  THE  BATTLE  BETWEEN  SIR  PALAMIDES  AND  THE  Two  BRETHREN, 

AND  HOW  THE  TWO  BRETHREN  WERE  SLAIN. 


they  departed,  and  the  two  brethren  came 
against  Sir  Palamides,  and  he  against  them,  as  fast 
as  their  horses  might  run.  And  by  fortune  Sir  Palamides 
smote  Helake  through  his  shield,  and  through  the  breast 
more  than  a  fathom.  All  this  while  Sir  Helius  held  up 
his  spear,  and  for  pride  and  presumption  he  would  not 
smite  Sir  Palamides  with  his  spear.  But  when  he  saw 
his  brother  lie  on  the  earth,  and  saw  he  might  not  help 
himself,  then  he  said  unto  Sir  Palamides,  "  Help  thyself  :  " 
and  therewith  he  came  hurtling  unto  Sir  Palamides  with 
his  spear,  and  smote  him  quite  from  his  saddle.  Then 
Sir  Helius  rode  over  Sir  Palamides  twice  or  thrice.  And 
therewith  Sir  Palamides  was  ashamed,  and  gat  the  horse 
of  Sir  Helius  by  the  bridle,  and  therewithal  the  horse 
areared,  and  Sir  Palamides  helped  after,  and  so  they  fell 
both  to  the  earth,  but  anon  Sir  Helius  started  up  lightly, 
and  there  he  smote  Sir  Palamides  a  mighty  stroke  upon 
the  helm,  so  that  he  kneeled  upon  his  own  knee.  Then 
they  lashed  together  many  sad  strokes,  and  traced  and 
traversed,  now  backward,  now  sideling,  hurtling  together 
like  two  boars,  and  that  same  time  they  fell  both  grovel- 
ling to  the  earth.  Thus  they  fought  still  without  any 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  253 

reposing  two  hours,  and  never  breathed,  and  then  Sit 
Palamides  waxed  faint  and  weary,  and  Sir  Helius  waxed 
passing  strong,  and  doubled  his  strokes,  and  drove  Sir 
Palamides  overthwart  and  endlong  all  the  field,  that  they 
of  the  city,  when  they  saw  Sir  Palamides  in  this  case, 
they  wept  and  cried,  and  made  a  sorrowful  dole ;  and  that 
other  party  made  great  joy.  "  Alas,"  said  the  men  of  tne 
city,  "  that  this  noble  knight  should  thus  be  slain  for  our 
king's  sake ! " 

And  as  they  were  thus  weeping  and  crying  [for]  Sir 
Palamides  that  had  endured  well  an  hundred  strokes,  that 
it  was  wonder  that  he  stood  upon  his  feet,  at  the  last 
Sir  Palamides  beheld  as  well  as  he  might  the  common 
people  how  they  wept  for  him.  And  then  he  said  unto 
himself,  "Ah,  fie  for  shame,  Sir  Palamides,  wherefore 
hangest  thou  thy  head  so  low  ? "  And  therewith  he  bare 
up  his  shield,  and  looked  Sir  Helius  in  the  visage,  and 
smote  him  a  great  stroke  upon  the  helm,  and  after  that 
another,  and  another.  And  then  he  smote  Sir  Helius 
with  such  a  might,  that  he  fell  upon  the  ground  grovel- 
ling ;  and  then  he  started  lightly  to  him,  and  rashed  off 
his  helm  from  his  head,  and  there  he  smote  him  such  a 
buffet  that  he  departed  his  head  from  the  body.  And 
then  were  the  people  of  the  city  the  joyfullest  people 
that  might  be.  So  they  brought  him  unto  his  lodging 
with  great  solemnity,  and  there  all  the  people  became  his 
men  ;  and  then  Sir  Palamides  prayed  them  all  for  to  take 
heed  unto  the  lordship  of  King  Hennance.  "  For,  fair 
sirs,  wit  ye  well,  I  may  not  at  this  time  abide  with  you, 
for  I  must  in  all  the  haste  be  with  my  lord  King  Arthur 
at  the  Castle  of  Lonazep,  which  I  have  promised." 

So  then  were  the  people  full  heavy  of  his  departing ; 
for  all  that  city  proffered  Sir  Palamides  the  third  part  of 


254  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

their  goods  so  that  he  would  abide  with  them ;  but  in  no 
wise  at  that  time  he  would  abide ;  and  so  Sir  Palamides 
departed.  And  then  he  came  unto  the  castle  whereas 
Sir  Ebel  was  lieutenant ;  and  when  they  that  were  in  the 
castle  knew  how  Sir  Palamides  had  sped,  there  was  a  joy- 
ful meyny  {household}.  And  Sir  Palamides  departed, 
and  came  to  the  Castle  of  Lonazep.  And  when  he  wist 
that  Sir  Tristram  was  not  there,  he  took  his  way  unto 
Humber,  and  came  unto  Joyous  Gard,  whereas  Sir  Tris- 
tram was  and  la  Belle  Isolde.  So  it  had  been  com- 
manded that  what  knight  errant  came  within  the  Joyous 
Gard,  as  in  the  town,  that  they  should  warn  Sir  Tristram. 
So  there  came  a  man  of  the  town,  and  told  Sir  Tristram 
how  there  was  a  knight  in  the  town,  a  passing  goodly 
man. 

"  What  manner  of  man  is  he  ? "  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  and 
what  sign  beareth  he?" 

So  the  man  told  Sir  Tristram  all  the  tokens  of  him. 

"That  is  Palamides/'  said  Dinadan. 

"It  may  well  be,"  said  Sir  Tristram:  "go  ye  to  him," 
said  Sir  Tristram  unto  Dinadan. 

So  Dinadan  went  unto  Sir  Palamides,  and  there  either 
made  of  other  great  joy,  and  so  they  lay  together  that 
night,  and  on  the  morn  early  came  Sir  Tristram  and  Sir 
Gareth,  and  took  them  in  their  beds,  and  so  they  arose 
and  brake  their  fast. 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  255 


CHAPTER    L. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  AND  SIR  LAUNCELOT,  WITH  SIR  PALAMIDES,  CAMI 
TO  JOYOUS  GARD,  AND  OF  SIR  PALAMIDES,  AND  OF  SIR  TRISTRAM. 

P  A  ND  so,  having  done  many  great  deeds  of  arms, 
L  <L\.  after  many  days  it  happened  that  Sir  Tristram  rode 
forth  for  to  rescue  Sir  Palamides,  but  Sir  Launcelot,  in 
disguise,  had  already  rescued  him  or  [before]  that  Sir 
Tristram  could  come.  And  then  Sir  Tristram  and  Sir 
Palamides  went  with  the  unknown  knight  to  his  castle, 
which  was  Sir  Launcelot's  castle  of  Joyous  Gard.] 

And  when  they  were  come  within  Joyous  Gard,  they 
alighted,  and  their  horses  were  led  into  a  stable,  and  then 
they  unarmed  them.  And  when  Sir  Launcelot  had  put 
off  his  helm,  Sir  Tristram  and  Sir  Palamides  knew  him. 
Then  Sir  Tristram  took  Sir  Launcelot  in  his  arms ;  and 
Sir  Palamides  kneeled  down  upon  his  knees  and  thanked 
Sir  Launcelot.  When  Sir  Launcelot  saw  Sir  Palamides 
kneel,  he  lightly  took  him  up,  and  said,  — 

"  Wit  thou  well,  Sir  Palamides,  I  and  any  knight  in  this 
land  of  worship  ought  of  very  right  succor  and  rescue  so 
noble  a  knight  as  ye  are  proved  and  renowned  throughout 
all  this  realm,  endlong  and  overthwart." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  within  three  or  four  days  departed ; 
and  with  him  rode  Sir  Ector  de  Maris  ;  and  Dinadan  and 
Sir  Palamides  were  there  left  with  Sir  Tristram  a  two 
months  and  more.  But  ever  Sir  Palamides  faded  and 
mourned,  that  all  men  had  marvel  wherefore  he  faded  so 
away.  So  upon  a  day,  in  the  dawning  Sir  Palamides  went 
into  the  forest  by  himself  alone,  and  there  he  found  a 
well.  And  therewithal  he  laid  him  down  by  the  well. 


256  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

And  then  he  began  to  make  a  rhyme  of  la  Belle  Isolde 
and  him.  And  in  the  meanwhile  Sir  Tristram  was  that 
same  day  ridden  into  the  forest  to  chase  the  hart  of  greese 
[the  fat  hart\.  And  so  as  Sir  Tristram  rode  into  that 
forest  up  and  down,  he  heard  one  sing  marvellously  loud ; 
and  that  was  Sir  Palamides,  that  lay  by  the  well.  And 
then  Sir  Tristram  rode  softly  thither,  for  he  deemed  there 
was  some  knight  errant  that  was  at  the  well. 

And  when  Sir  Tristram  came  nigh  him,  he  descended 
down  from  his  horse,  and  tied  his  horse  fast  to  a  tree, 
and  then  he  came  near  him  on  foot.  And  anon  he  was 
ware  where  lay  Sir  Palamides  by  the  well.  And  ever  the 
complaints  were  of  that  noble  queen  la  Belle  Isolde,  the 
which  was  marvellously  and  wonderfully  well  made  and 
full  dolefully  and  piteously.  And  all  the  whole  song  the 
noble  knight  Sir  Tristram  heard  from  the  beginning  to 
the  ending,  the  which  grieved  and  troubled  him  sore. 
But  then  at  last,  when  Sir  Tristram  had  heard  all  Sir 
Palamides'  complaints,  he  was  wroth  out  of  measure, 
and  thought  for  to  slay  him  there  as  he  lay.  Then  Sir 
Tristram  remembered  himself  that  Sir  Palamides  was  un- 
armed, and  of  the  noble  name  that  Sir  Palamides  had, 
and  the  noble  name  that  himself  had,  and  then  he  made  a 
restraint  of  his  anger,  and  so  he  went  unto  Sir  Palamides 
a  soft  pace,  and  said,  — 

"Sir  Palamides,  I  have  heard  your  complaint,  and  of 
thy  treason  that  thou  hast  owed  me  so  long.  And  wit 
thou  well  therefore  thou  shalt  die.  And  if  it  were  not 
for  shame  of  knighthood  thou  shouldest  not  escape  my 
hands,  for  now  I  know  well  thou  hast  awaited  me  with 
treason.  Tell  me,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "how  thou  wilt 
acquit  thee." 

"  Sir,"  said  Palamides,  "  thus  I  will  acquit  me :  as  for 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  257 

Queen  la  Belle  Isolde,  ye  shall  wit  well  that  I  love  her 
above  all  other  ladies  of  the  world ;  and  well  I  wot  it 
shall  befall  me  as  for  her  love  as  befell  to  the  noble 
knight  Sir  Kehidius,  that  died  for  the  love  of  la  Belle 
Isolde ;  and  now,  Sir  Tristram,  I  will  that  ye  wit  that  I 
have  loved  la  Belle  Isolde  many  a  day,  and  she  hath  been 
the  causer  of  my  worship.  And  else  I  had  been  the  most 
simplest  knight  in  the  world.  For  by  her,  and  because  of 
her,  I  have  won  the  worship  that  I  have  :  for  when  I  re- 
membered me  of  la  Belle  Isolde,  I  won  the  worship 
wheresoever  I  came,  for  the  most  part;  and  yet  had  I 
never  reward  nor  bounty  of  her  the  days  of  my  life,  and 
yet  have  I  been  her  knight  guerdonless;  and  therefore, 
Sir  Tristram,  as  for  any  death  I  dread  not,  for  I  had  as 
lief  die  as  to  live.  And  if  I  were  armed  as  thou  art,  I 
should  lightly  do  battle  with  thee." 

"  Well  have  ye  uttered  your  treason,"  said  Sir  Tristram. 

"  I  have  done  to  you  no  treason,"  said  Sir  Palamides, 
"for  love  is  free  for  all  men,  and  though  I  have  loved 
your  lady  she  is  my  lady  as  well  as  yours ;  and  yet  shall  I 
love  her  to  the  uttermost  days  of  my  life  as  well  as  ye." 


CHAPTER  LI. 

HOW  THERE  WAS  A  DAY    SET    BETWEEN    SIR   TRISTRAM    AND   SlR  PALA- 
MIDES  FOR  TO  FIGHT,  AND  HOW  SlR  TRISTRAM  WAS  HURT. 

THEN,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "I  will  fight  with  you  unto 
the  uttermost." 

"  I  grant,"  said  Sir  Palamides,  "  for  in  a  better  quarrel 
keep  I  never  to  fight,  for  and  I  die  of  your  hands,  of  a 
better  knight's  hands  may  I  not  be  slain.  And  sithen 


258  The  Bofs  King  Arthur. 

[since]  I  understand  that  I  shall  never  rejoice  the  queett 
la  Belle  Isolde,  I  have  as  good  a  will  to  die  as  to  live." 

"Then  set  ye  a  day  of  battle,"  said  Sir  Tristram. 

"This  day  fifteen  days,"  said  Sir  Palamides,  "will  I  meet 
with  you  hereby  in  the  meadow  under  Joyous  Card." 

"Fie  for  shame!"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "will  ye  set  so 
long  a  day  ?  let  us  fight  to-morrow." 

"Not  so,"  said  Sir  Palamides,  "for  I  am  feeble  and  lean, 
and  have  been  long  sick  for  the  love  of  la  Belle  Isolde, 
and  therefore  I  will  rest  me  till  that  I  have  my  strength 
again." 

So  then  Sir  Tristram  and  Sir  Palamides  promised  faith- 
fully to  meet  at  the  well  as  that  day  fifteen  days. 

Right  so  departed  Sir  Tristram  and  Sir  Palamides  ;  and 
so  Sir  Palamides  took  his  horse  and  his  harness,  and  rode 
unto  King  Arthur's  court,  and  there  Sir  Palamides  gat 
him  four  knights  and  three  sergeants  of  arms ;  and  so  he 
returned  again  toward  Joyous  Card.  And  in  the  mean- 
while Sir  Tristram  chased  and  hunted  at  all  manner  of 
venery  \game\\  and  about  a  three  days  afore  that  the 
battle  should  be,  as  Sir  Tristram  chased  an  hart,  there 
was  an  archer  shot  at  the  hart,  and  by  misfortune  he 
smote  Sir  Tristram  in  the  thickest  of  the  thigh  and 
wounded  him  right  sore,  and  the  arrow  slew  Sir  Tris- 
tram's horse ;  and  when  Sir  Tristram  was  so  sore  hurt, 
he  was  passing  heavy,  and  wit  ye  well  he  bled  sore. 
And  then  he  took  another  horse,  and  rode  unto  Joyoui 
Gard  with  full  great  heaviness. 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  259 


CHAPTER  LII. 

How  THAT  SIR  PALAMIDES  KEPT  HIS  DAY  FOR  TO  HAVE  FOUGHTKN,  BUI 
SIR  TRISTRAM  MIGHT  NOT  COME. 

THEN  when  the  fifteenth  day  was  come,  Sir  Pala- 
mides  came  to  the  well  with  four  knights  with  him 
of  King  Arthur's  court,  and  three  sergeants  of  arms. 
And  the  one  sergeant  brought  his  helm,  the  other  his 
spear,  and  the  third  his  sword.  So  Sir  Palamides  came 
into  the  field,  and  there  he  abode  nigh  two  hours,  and 
then  he  sent  a  squire  unto  Sir  Tristram,  and  desired  him 
to  come  into  the  field  for  to  hold  his  promise.  When  the 
squire  was  come  to  Joyous  Gard,  and  that  Sir  Tristram 
heard  of  his  coming,  he  commanded  that  the  squire  should 
come  to  his  presence  there  as  he  lay  in  his  bed. 

"  My  lord  Sir  Tristram,"  said  Palamides'  squire,  "wit 
you  well,  my  lord  Palamides  abideth  you  in  the  field,  and 
he  would  wit  whether  ye  would  do  battle  or  not." 

"Ah,  my  fair  brother,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "wit  thou 
well  that  I  am  right  heavy  for  these  tidings,  therefore 
tell  Sir  Palamides  and  I  were  well  at  ease  I  would  not  lie 
here,  nor  he  should  have  no  need  to  send  for  me,  and  I 
might  either  ride  or  go  :  and  for  thou  shalt  say  that  I  am 
no  liar,"  Sir  Tristram  showed  him  his  thigh,  that  the 
wound  was  six  inches  deep  :  —  "  and  now  thou  hast  seen 
my  hurt,  tell  thy  lord  that  this  is  no  feigned  matter ;  and 
tell  him  that  I  had  liever  than  all  the  gold  of  King  Arthur 
that  I  were  whole ;  and  tell  Sir  Palamides,  as  soon  as  I 
am  whole  I  shall  seek  him  endlong  and  overthwart,  and 
that  I  promise  you  as  I  am  true  knight ;  and  if  ever  I  may 
meet  with  him  he  shall  have  battle  of  me  his  fill." 


260  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

And  with  this  the  squire  departed.  And  then  departed 
Sir  Palamides  where  as  fortune  led  him.  And  within  9 
aionth  Sir  Tristram  was  whole  of  his  hurt.  And  then  he 
took  his  horse,  and  rode  from  country  to  country,  and  all 
strange  adventures  he  achieved  wheresoever  he  rode,  and 
always  he  inquired  for  Sir  Palamides. 


CHAPTER  LIII. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  DEPARTED  UNARMED,  AND  MET  WITH  Sim  PALA- 
MIDES, AND  HOW  SIR  PALAMIDES  FORBORE  HIM. 

r\T  7HEN  Sir  Tristram  was  returned,  he  heard  how 
L  V  V  there  should  be  a  great  feast  at  King  Arthur's 
court  on  the  Pentecost  next  following.  And  so  when  that 
day  was  nigh  Sir  Tristram  set  forth  unarmed  towards 
Camel  ot.] 

And  within  a  mile  after,  Sir  Tristram  saw  before  him 
where  Sir  Palamides  had  stricken  down  a  knight,  and  had 
almost  wounded  him  to  death.  Then  Sir  Tristram  re- 
pented him  that  he  was  not  armed,  and  then  he  hoved 
still.  With  that  Sir  Palamides  knew  Sir  Tristram,  and 
cried  on  high  :  "  Sir  Tristram,  now  be  we  met,  for  or  we 
depart  we  will  redress  our  old  sores." 

"  As  for  that,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  there  was  never  yet 
Christian  man  that  might  make  his  boast  that  ever  I  fled 
from  him,  and  wit  thou  well,  Sir  Palamides,  thou  that  art 
a  Saracen  shall  never  make  thy  boast  that  Sir  Tristram  de 
Lyonesse  shall  flee  from  thee.' 

And  therewithal  Sir  Tristram  made  his  horse  to  run 
with  all  his  might,  came  he  straight  upon  Sir  Palamides, 
and  brake  his  spear  upon  him  in  an  hundred  pieces,  and 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  261 

forthwith  Sir  Tristram  drew  his  sword,  and  then  he  turned 
his  horse  and  struck  at  Sir  Palamides  six  great  strokes 
upon  his  helm.  And  then  Sir  Palamides  stood  still,  and 
beheld  Sir  Tristram,  and  marvelled  of  his  woodness  and 
of  his  great  folly ;  and  then  Sir  Palamides  said  to  himself, 
"And  Sir  Tristram  were  armed  it  were  hard  to  cease 
him  of  this  battle,  and  if  I  turn  again  and  slay  him  I  am 
shamed  wheresoever  that  I  go." 

Then  Sir  Tristram  spake  and  said,  "Thou  coward 
knight,  what  castest  thou  to  do  ?  why  wilt  thou  not  do 
battle  with  me,  for  have  thou  no  doubt  I  shall  endure 
all  thy  malice." 

"Ah,  Sir  Tristram,"  said  Sir  Palamides,  "full  well  thou 
wottest  I  may  not  fight  with  thee  for  shame,  for  thou  art 
here  naked,  and  I  am  armed,  and  if  I  slay  thee  dishonor 
shall  be  mine.  And  well  thou  wottest  I  know  thy  strength 
and  thy  hardiness  to  endure  against  a  good  knight." 

"That  is  truth,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  I  understand  thy 
valiantness  well." 

"  Ye  say  well,"  said  Sir  Palamides,  "  now  I  require  you 
tell  me  a  question  that  I  shall  say  to  you." 

"Tell  me  what  it  is,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "and  I  shall 
answer  you  the  truth." 

"I  put  the  case,"  said  Sir  Palamides,  "that  ye  were 
armed  at  all  rights  as  well  as  I  am,  and  I  naked  as  ye 
be,  what  would  ye  do  to  me  now  by  your  true  knight 
hood  ? " 

"  Ah,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  now  I  understand  thee  well, 
Sir  Palamides,  for  now  must  I  say  my  own  judgment,  and, 
as  God  me  bless,  that  I  shall  say  shall  not  be  said  for  no 
fear  that  I  have  of  thee.  But  this  is  all ;  wit,  Sir  Pala- 
mides, as  at  this  time  thou  shouldest  depart  from  me,  foi 
I  would  not  have  ado  with  thee." 


262  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"  No  more  will  I,"  said  Sir  Palamides,  "  and  therefore 
ride  forth  on  thy  way." 

"As  for  that  I  may  choose,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "either 
to  ride  or  to  abide.  But  Sir  Palamides,"  said  Sir  Tristram, 
"I  marvel  of  one  thing,  that  thou  that  art  so  good  a 
knight,  that  thou  will  not  be  christened,  and  thy  brother 
Sir  Safere  hath  been  christened  many  a  day." 


CHAPTER  LIV. 

How  THAT  SIR  TRISTRAM  GAT  HIM  HARNESS  OF  A  KNIGHT  WHICH  WAS 

HURT,  AND  HOW  HE  OVERTHREW  SlR  PALAMIDES. 

AS  for  that,"  said  Sir  Palamides,  "  I  may  not  yet  be 
christened  for  one  avow  that  I  have  made  many 
years  agone;  howbeit  in  my  heart  I  believe  in  Jesus 
Christ  and  his  mild  mother  Mary;  but  I  have  but  one 
battle  to  do,  and  when  that  is  done  I  will  be  baptized 
with  a  good  will." 

"  By  my  head,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  as  for  one  battle 
thou  shalt  not  seek  it  no  longer.  For  God  defend,"  said 
Sir  Tristram,  "that  through  my  default  thou  shouldest 
longer  live  thus  a  Saracen.  For  yonder  is  a  knight  that 
ye,  Sir  Palamides,  have  hurt  and  smitten  down ;  now  help 
me  that  I  were  armed  in  his  armor,  and  I  shall  soon  fulfil 
thine  avows." 

"  As  ye  will,"  said  Sir  Palamides,  "so  it  shall  be." 

So  they  rode  unto  that  knight  that  sat  upon  a  bank, 
and  then  Sir  Tristram  saluted  him,  and  he  weakly  saluted 
him  again. 

"  Sir  knight,"  said  Sb  Tristram,  "  I  require  you  tell  me 
your  right  name." 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  263 

"  Sir,"  he  said,  "  my  name  is  Sir  Galleron  of  Galway, 
and  knight  of  the  Table  Round." 

"  Truly,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  I  am  right  heavy  of  your 
hurts  :  but  this  is  all,  I  must  pray  you  to  lend  me  all  your 
whole  armor,  for  ye  see  I  am  unarmed,  and  I  must  do 
battle  with  this  knight." 

"Sir,"  said  the  hurt  knight,  "ye  shall  have  it  with  a 
good  will ;  but  ye  must  beware,  for  I  warn  you  that  knight 
is  wight  \strong\.  Sir,"  said  Galleron,  "I  pray  you  tell 
me  your  name,  and  what  is  that  knight's  name  that  hath 
beaten  me." 

"  Sir,  as  for  my  name,  it  is  Sir  Tristram  de  Lyonesse, 
and  as  for  the  knight's  name  that  hath  hurt  you,  it  is  Sir 
Palamides,  brother  unto  the  good  knight  Sir  Safere,  and 
yet  is  Sir  Palamides  unchristened." 

"Alas,"  said  Sir  Galleron,  "that  is  pity  that  so  good 
a  knight  and  so  noble  a  man  of  arms  should  be  un- 
christened." 

"  Truly,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "  either  he  shall  slay  me,  or 
I  him,  but  that  he  shall  be  christened  or  ever  we  depart  in 
sunder." 

"My  lord  Sir  Tristram,"  said  Sir  Galleron,  "your 
renown  and  worship  is  well  known  through  many  realms, 
and  God  save  you  this  day  from  shame." 

Then  Sir  Tristram  unarmed  Galleron,  the  which  was  a 
noble  knight  and  had  done  many  deeds  of  arms,  and  he 
was  a  large  knight  of  flesh  and  bone.  And  when  he  was 
unarmed  he  stood  upon  his  feet,  for  he  was  bruised  in  the 
back  with  a  spear ;  yet,  so  as  Sir  Galleron  might,  he  armed 
Sir  Tristram.  And  then  Sir  Tristram  mounted  upon  his 
own  horse,  and  in  his  hand  he  gat  Sir  Galleron's  spear. 
And  therewithal  Sir  Palamides  was  ready,  and  so  they 
came  hurtling  together,  and  either  smote  other  in  the 


264  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

midst  of  their  shields,  and  therewithal  Sir  Palamides' 
spear  brake,  and  Sir  Tristram  smote  down  the  horse; 
and  then  Sir  Palamides,  as  soon  as  he  might,  avoided  his 
horse,  and  dressed  his  shield,  and  pulled  out  his  sword. 
That  saw  Sir  Tristram,  and  therewith  he  alighted,  and 
tied  his  horse  to  a  tree. 


CHAPTER  LV. 

How  SIR  TRISTRAM  AND  SIR   PALAMIDES   FOUGHT   LONG  TOGETHER, 

AND    AFTER    ACCORDED;    AND  HOW  SlR    TRISTRAM    MADE    HIM    TO    BE 
CHRISTENED. 

AND  then  they  came  together  as  two  wild  boars,  lash- 
ing together,  tracing  and  traversing  as  noble  men 
that  oft  had  been  well  proved  in  battle ;  but  ever  Sir  Pala- 
mides dreaded  the  might  of  Sir  Tristram,  and  therefore 
he  suffered  him  to  breathe  him.  Thus  they  fought  more 
than  two  hours ;  and  often  Sir  Tristram  smote  such 
strokes  at  Sir  Palamides  that  he  made  him  to  kneel ;  and 
Sir  Palamides  brake  and  cut  away  many  pieces  of  Sir 
Tristram's  shield,  and  then  Sir  Palamides  wounded  Sir 
Tristram,  for  he  was  a  well  fighting  man.  Then  Sir  Tris- 
tram was  wood  wrath  out  of  measure,  and  rashed  upon 
Sir  Palamides  with  such  a  might  that  Sir  Palamides  fell 
grovelling  to  the  earth,  and  therewithal  he  leapt  up  lightly 
upon  his  feet,  and  then  Sir  Tristram  wounded  Sir  Pala 
mides  sore  through  the  shoulder.  And  ever  Sir  Tristram 
fought  still  in  like  hard,  and  Sir  Palamides  failed  not,  but 
gave  him  many  sad  strokes.  And  at  the  last  Sir  Tristram 
doubled  his  strokes,  and  by  fortune  Sir  Tristram  smote 
Sir  Palamides'  sword  out  of  his  hand,  and  if  Sir  Palamidss 


Of  Sir  Tristram.  265 

had  stooped  for  his  sword,  he  had  been  slain.  Then  Sir 
Palamides  stood  still  and  beheld  his  sword  with  a  sorrow- 
ful heart. 

"How  now,"  said  Sir  Tristram  unto  Sir  Palamides, 
"now  have  I  thee  at  advantage  as  thou  hadst  me  this 
day,  but  it  shall  never  be  said  in  no  court,  nor  among 
good  knights,  that  Sir  Tristram  shall  slay  any  knight  that 
is  weaponless,  and  therefore  take  thou  thy  sword,  and  let 
us  make  an  end  of  this  battle." 

"As  for  to  do  this  battle,"  said  Sir  Palamides,  "I  dare 
right  well  end  it ;  but  I  have  no  great  lust  to  fight  nc 
more,  and  for  this  cause,  mine  offence  to  you  is  not  so 
great  but  that  we  may  be  friends.  All  that  I  have 
offended  is  and  was  for  the  love  of  la  Belle  Isolde.  And 
as  for  her,  I  dare  say  she  is  peerless  above  all  other  ladies, 
and  also  I  proffered  her  never  no  dishonor ;  and  by  her 
I  have  gotten  the  most  part  of  my  worship,  and  sithen  I 
offended  never  as  to  her  own  person.  And  as  for  the 
offence  that  I  have  done,  it  was  against  your  own  person, 
and  for  that  offence  ye  have  given  me  this  day  many  sad 
strokes,  and  some  I  have  given  you  again ;  and  now  I  dare 
say  I  felt  never  man  of  your  might,  nor  so  well  breathed, 
but  if  it  were  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  Wherefore  I  re- 
quire you,  my  lord,  forgive  me  all  that  I  have  offended 
unto  you.  And  this  same  day  have  me  to  the  next 
church,  and  first  let  me  be  clean  confessed,  and  after  see 
you  now  that  I  be  truly  baptized.  And  then  will  we  all 
ride  together  unto  the  court  of  Arthur,  that  we  be  there 
at  the  high  feast." 

"Now  take  your  horse,"  said  Sir  Tristram,  "and  as  yc 
say,  so  it  shall  be ;  and  all  your  evil  will  God  forgive  it 
you,  and  I  do.  And  here,  within  this  mile,  is  the  suffra- 
gan of  Carlisle,  that  shall  give  you  the  sacrament  of  bap 
tism." 


266  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

Then  they  took  their  horses,  and  Sir  Galleron  rode  with 
them.  And  when  they  came  to  the  suffragan  Sir  Tris- 
tram told  him  their  desire.  Then  the  suffragan  let  fill  a 
great  vessel  with  water.  And  when  he  had  hallowed  it, 
he  then  confessed  clean  Sir  Palamides,  and  Sir  Tristram 
and  Sir  Galleron  were  his  god-fathers.  And  then  soon 
after  they  departed,  riding  towards  Camelot,  where  King 
Arthur  and  Queen  Guenever  was,  and  for  the  most  part 
all  the  knights  of  the  Round  Table.  And  so  the  king 
and  all  the  court  were  glad  that  Sir  Palamides  was 
christened.  And  Sir  Tristram  returned  again  towards 
Joyous  Gard. 


CHAPTER  LVL 

How  KING  MARK  SLEW  SIR  TRISTRAM  BY  TREACHERY,  AND  LA  BELLB 
ISOLDE  DIED  OF  GRIEF. 

r  A  ND  so,  after  years,  and  many  mighty  deeds  of  arms, 
L  JL\  the]  traitor  King  Mark  slew  the  noble  knight  Sir 
Tristram  as  he  sat  harping  before  his  lady  la  Belle  Isolde, 
with  a  trenchant  glaive ;  for  whose  death  was  much  be- 
wailing of  every  knight  in  Arthur's  days.  And  la  Belle 
Isolde  died  swooning  upon  the  corpse  of  Sir  Tristram, 
whereof  was  great  pity.  And  all  that  were  with  King 
Mark  consenting  to  the  death  of  Sir  Tristram  were  slaia. 


BOOK    v. 
OF  SIR  GALAHAD  AND  SIR  PERCIVAL, 

AND  THE  QUEST  OF  THE  HOLY  GRAIL. 


CHAPTER  I. 

How  THE  LETTERS  WERE  FOUND  WRITTEN  IN  THE  SIEGE  PERILOUS, 

AND  OF  THE  MARVELLOUS  ADVENTURE  OF  THE  SWORD  IN  A  STONE. 

AT  the  vigil  of  Pentecost,  when  all  the  fellowship  of 
the  Round  Table  were  come  unto  Camelot,  and  there 
they  all  heard  their  service,  and  all  the  tables  were  covered, 
ready  to  set  thereon  the  meat,  right  so  entered  into  the 
hall  a  full  fair  gentlewoman  on  horseback,  that  had  ridden 
full  fast,  for  her  horse  was  all  to-besweat ;  [and  she  be- 
sought Sir  Launcelot  that  he  would  come  forth  with  her 
into  the  forest  for  to  dub  a  knight.]  Right  so  departed 
Sir  Launcelot  with  the  gentlewoman,  and  rode  till  they 
came  into  a  forest,  and  into  a  great  valley,  where  he  saw 
an  abbey  of  nuns ;  and  there  was  a  squire  ready  to  open 
the  gates.  And  so  there  came  in  twelve  nuns,  which 
brought  with  them  Galahad,  the  which  was  passing  fair 
and  well  made,  that  unneth  [hardly]  men  in  the  world 
might  not  find  his  match ;  and  all  those  ladies  wept. 
"  Sir,"  said  the  ladies,  "  we  bring  here  this  child,  the 

•67 


268  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

which  we  have  nourished,  and  we  pray  you  for  to  make 
him  a  knight;  for  of  a  more  worthier  man's  hand  may 
he  not  receive  the  order  of  knighthood." 

Sir  Launcelot  beheld  that  young  squire,  and  saw  he  was 
seemly  and  demure  as  a  dove,  with  all  manner  of  good 
features,  that  he  wend  of  his  age  never  to  have  seen  so 
fair  a  man  of  form. 

Then  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  Cometh  this  desire  of  him- 
self?" 

He  and  all  they  said,  "Yea." 

"Then  shall  he,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "receive  the  high 
order  of  knighthood  as  to-morrow  at  the  reverence  of  the 
high  feast." 

That  night  Sir  Launcelot  had  passing  good  cheer,  and 
on  the  morrow  at  the  hour  of  prime,  at  Galahad's  desire, 
he  made  him  knight ;  and  said,  "  God  make  him  a  good 
man,  for  beauty  faileth  him  not  as  any  that  liveth." 

So  when  the  king  and  all  the  knights  were  come  from 
service,  the  barons  espied  in  the  sieges  of  the  Pound 
Table,  all  about  written  with  gold  letters :  "  Here  ought 
to  sit"  he,  and  he  "ought  to  sit  here."  And  thus  they 
went  so  long  until  that  they  came  to  the  Siege  Perilous, 
where  they  found  letters  newly  written  of  gold,  that  said : 
"  Four  hundred  winters  and  fifty-four  accomplished  after 
the  passion  of  our  Lord  Jesu  Christ  ought  this  siege  to  be 
fulfilled." 

Then  all  they  said,  "  This  is  a  marvellous  thing,  and  an 
adventurous." 

"  In  the  name  of  God,"  said  Sir  Launcelot ;  and  then 
he  accounted  the  term  of  the  writing,  from  the  birth  of 
our  Lord  unto  that  day. 

"  It  seemeth  me,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  this  siege  ought 
to  be  fulfilled  this  same  day,  for  this  is  the  feast  of  Pente- 


Of  Sir  Galahad  and  Sir  Percival.        269 

cost  after  the  four  hundred  and  four  and  fifty  year ;  and  if 
it  would  please  all  parties,  I  would  none  of  these  letters 
were  seen  this  day,  till  he  be  come  that  ought  to  achieve 
this  adventure." 

Then  made  they  to  ordain  a  cloth  of  silk  for  to  cover 
these  letters  in  the  Siege  Perilous.  Then  the  king  bade 
haste  unto  dinner. 

"  Sir,"  said  Sir  Kay  the  steward,  "  if  ye  go  now  unto 
your  meat,  ye  shall  break  your  old  custom  of  your  court. 
For  ye  have  not  used  on  this  day  to  sit  at  your  meat  or 
that  ye  have  seen  some  adventure." 

"Ye  say  sooth,"  said  the  king,  "but  I  had  so  great  joy 
of  Sir  Launcelot  and  of  his  cousins,  which  be  come  to  the 
court  whole  and  sound,  that  I  bethought  me  not  of  my 
old  custom." 

So  as  they  stood  speaking,  in  came  a  squire,  and  said 
unto  the  king,  "  Sir,  I  bring  unto  you  marvellous  tidings." 

"  What  be  they  ? "  said  the  king. 

"  Sir,  there  is  here  beneath  at  the  river  a  great  stone, 
which  I  saw  fleet  \fioaf\  above  the  water,  and  therein  saw 
I  sticking  a  sword." 

The  king  said,  "  I  will  see  that  marvel." 

So  all  the  knights  went  with  him,  and  when  they  came 
unto  the  river,  they  found  there  a  stone  fleeting,  as  it  were 
of  red  marble,  and  therein  stuck  a  fair  and  a  rich  sword, 
and  in  the  pommel  thereof  were  precious  stones,  wrought 
with  subtle  letters  of  gold.  Then  the  barons  read  the 
letters,  which  said  in  this  wise  :  "  Never  shall  man  take  me 
hence,  but  only  he  by  whom  I  ought  to  hang,  and  he  shall 
be  the  best  knight  of  the  world." 

When  the  king  had  seen  these  letters,  he  said  unto  Sir 
Launcelot,  "  Fair  sir,  this  sword  ought  to  be  yours,  for  I 
am  sure  that  ye  be  the  best  knight  of  the  world." 


270  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  answered  soberly,  "Certainly,  sir, 
it  is  not  my  sword.  Also,  sir,  wit  ye  well  I  have  no  hardi- 
ness to  set  my  hand  to  it,  for  it  belongeth  not  to  hang  by 
my  side.  Also,  who  assay eth  for  to  take  that  sword,  and 
faileth  of  it,  he  shall  receive  a  wound  by  that  sword  that 
he  shall  not  be  whole  long  after.  And  I  will  that  ye  wit 
that  this  same  day  will  the  adventures  of  the  Sancgreal 
(that  is  called  the  holy  vessel)  begin." 


CHAPTER  II. 

[How  AN  OLD  MAN]  BROUGHT  SIR  GALAHAD  UNTO  THE  SIEGE  PERILOUS, 

AND  SET  HIM  THEREIN  J  AND  HOW  KlNG  ARTHUR  SHOWED  THE  STONE, 
HOVING  ON  THE  WATER,  TO  GALAHAD,  AND  HOW  HE  DREW  OUT  THE 

SWORD. 

SO  when  they  were  served,  and  all  the  sieges  fulfilled 
save  only  the  Siege  Perilous,  anon  there  befell  a  mar- 
vellous adventure,  that  all  the  doors  and  the  windows  of 
the  palace  shut  by  themselves,  but  for  all  that  the  hall  was 
not  greatly  darked,  and  therewith  they  were  all  abashed 
both  one  and  other.  Then  King  Arthur  spake  first,  and 
said,  "  Fair  fellows  and  lords,  we  have  seen  this  day  mar- 
vels, but  or  night  I  suppose  we  shall  see  greater  marvels." 
In  the  meanwhile  came  in  a  good  old  man  and  an 
ancient,  clothed  all  in  white ;  and  there  was  no  knight 
that  knew  from  whence  he  came.  And  with'  him  he 
brought  a  young  knight,  both  on  foot,  in  red  arms,  with- 
out sword  or  shield,  save  a  scabbard  hanging  by  his  side  ; 
and  these  words  he  said,  "Peace  be  with  you,  fair  lords." 
Then  the  old  man  said  unto  King  Arthur,  "  Sir,  I  bring 
you  here  a  young  knight  that  is  of  king's  lineage,  and  of 


Of  Sir  Galahad  and  Sir  Percival.        271 

the  kindred  of  Joseph  of  Arimathea,  whereby  the  marvels 
of  this  court  and  of  strange  realms  shall  be  fully  accom- 
plished." 

The  king  was  right  glad  of  his  words,  and  said  unto  the 
good  man,  "Sir,  ye  be  right  heartily  welcome,  and  the 
young  knight  with  you." 

Then  the  old  man  made  the  young  knight  to  unarm 
him;  and  he  was  in  a  coat  of  red  sendall,  and  bare  a 
mantle  upon  his  shoulder  that  was  furred  with  fine  er- 
mines, and  put  that  upon  him.  And  the  old  man  said 
unto  the  young  knight,  "  Sir,  follow  after." 

And  anon  he  led  him  unto  the  Siege  Perilous,  where 
beside  sat  Sir  Launcelot ;  and  the  good  man  lifted  up  the 
cloth,  and  found  there  letters  that  said  thus  :  "  This  is  the 
siege  of  Galahad  the  haut  \higK\  prince." 

Then  all  the  knights  of  the  Table  Round  marvelled 
them  greatly  of  Sir  Galahad,  that  he  durst  sit  there  in 
that  Siege  Perilous,  and  was  so  tender  of  age,  and  wist 
not  from  whence  he  came,  but  all  only  by  God,  and  said, 
This  is  he  by  whom  the  Sancgreal  shall  be  achieved,  for 
there  sat  never  none  but  he,  but  he  were  mischieved. 
Then  Sir  Launcelot  beheld  his  son,  and  had  great  joy  of 
him. 

Then  came  King  Arthur  unto  Sir  Galahad,  and  said, 
"  Sir,  ye  be  welcome,  for  ye  shall  move  many  good  knights 
unto  the  quest  of  the  Sancgreal,  and  ye  shall  achieve  that 
never  knight  might  bring  to  an  end." 

Then  the  king  took  him  by  the  hand,  and  went  down 
from  the  palace  to  show  Sir  Galahad  the  adventure  of  the 
stone. 

The  queen  heard  thereof,  and  came  after  with  many 
ladies,  and  showed  them  the  stone  \\here  it  hoved  on  the 
water.  "Sir,"  said  the  king  unto  Sir  Galahad,  "here  is  a 


272  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

great  marvel  as  ever  I  saw,  and  right  good  knights  have 
assayed  and  failed." 

"  Sir/'  said  Galahad,  "  that  is  no  marvel,  for  this  adven- 
ture is  not  theirs,  but  mine,  and  for  the  surety  of  this 
sword  I  brought  none  with  me ;  for  here  by  my  side 
hangeth  the  scabbard." 

And  anon  he  laid  his  hand  on  the  sword,  and  lightly 
drew  it  out  of  the  stone,  and  put  it  in  the  sheath,  and  said 
unto  the  king,  "Now  it  goeth  better  than  it  did  afore- 
hand." 

"  Sir,"  said  the  king,  "a  shield  God  shall  send  you." 

"Now  have  I,"  said  Sir  Galahad,  "that  sword  that 
sometime  was  the  good  knight's  Balin  le  Savage,  and  he 
was  a  passing  good  man  of  his  hands.  And  with  this 
sword  he  slew  his  brother  Balan,  and  that  was  great  pity, 
for  he  was  a  good  knight,  and  either  slew  other  through  a 
dolorous  stroke  that  Balan  gave  unto  my  grandfather 
King  Pelles,  the  which  is  not  yet  whole,  nor  not  shall  be 
till  I  heal  him." 

Therewith  the  king  and  all  espied  where  came  riding 
down  the  river  a  lady  on  a  white  palfrey  toward  them. 
Then  she  saluted  the  king  and  the  queen,  and  asked  if 
that  Sir  Launcelot  was  there?  And  then  he  answered 
himself,  "  I  am  here,  fair  lady." 

Then  she  said,  all  with  weeping,  "  How  your  great  doing 
is  changed  sith  this  day  in  the  morn." 

"  Damsel,  why  say  ye  so  ? "  said  Launcelot. 

"  I  say  you  sooth,"  said  the  damsel,  "  for  ye  were  this 
day  the  best  knight  of  the  world,  but  who  should  say  so 
now  should  be  a  liar,  for  there  is  now  one  better  than  ye. 
And  well  it  is  proved  by  the  adventures  of  the  sword 
whereto  ye  durst  not  set  your  hand,  and  that  is  in  remem- 
brance, that  ye  shall  not  ween  from  henceforth  that  ye  be 
the  best  knight  of  the  worl'4  " 


Of  Sir  Galahad  and  Sir  PercivaL        273 

"  As  touching  that,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  I  know  well 
I  was  never  the  best." 

"  Yes,"  said  the  damsel,  "  that  were  ye,  and  yet  Are  of 
any  sinful  man  of  the  world;  and,  sir  king,  Nacien  the 
hermit  sendeth  thee  word  that  to  thee  shall  befall  the 
greatest  worship  that  ever  befell  king  in  Britain,  and  I 
shall  tell  you  wherefore,  for  this  day  the  Sancgreal  ap- 
peared in  this  thy  house,  and  fed  thee  and  all  thy  fellow- 
ship of  the  Round  Table." 

And  so  the  damsel  took  her  leave,  and  departed  the 
same  way  that  she  came. 


CHAPTER  III. 

How  THE  QUEEN  DESIRED  TO  SEE  SIR  GALAHAD,  AND  HOW,  AFTER,  ALL 
THE  KNIGHTS  WERE  REPLENISHED  WITH  THE  HOLY  GRAIL,  AND  HOW 
THEY  AVOWED  THE  INQUEST  OF  THE  SAME. 


the  king  [caused  that  Queen  Guenever  should 
JL  see  Sir  Galahad]  in  the  visage  ;  and  when  she  beheld 
him  she  said,  "  Soothly  I  dare  well  say  that  he  is  Sir 
Launcelot's  son,  for  never  two  men  resembled  more  in 
likeness,  therefore  it  is  no  marvel  though  he  be  of  great 
prowess." 

So  a  lady  that  stood  by  the  queen  said  :  "  Madam,  for 
God's  sake,  ought  he  of  right  to  be  so  good  a  knight  ?  " 

"Yea,  forsooth,"  said  the  queen,  "for  he  is  of  all  parties 
come  of  the  best  knights  of  the  world,  and  of  the  highest 
lineage,  for  Sir  Launcelot  is  come  but  of  the  eighth  de- 
gree from  our  Lord  Jesu  Christ,  and  Sir  Galahad  is  of  the 
ninth  degree  from  our  Lord  Jesu  Christ,  therefore  I  dare 
well  say  that  they  be  the  greatest  gentlemen  of  all  the 
world." 


274  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

And  then  the  king  and  all  the  estates  went  home  unto 
Camelot,  and  so  went  to  even-song  to  the  great  minster ; 
and  so  after  that  they  went  to  supper,  and  every  knight 
sat  in  their  place  as  they  were  beforehand.  Then  anon 
they  heard  cracking  and  crying  of  thunder,  that  them 
thought  the  place  should  all  to-rive  [burst] ;  in  the  midst 
of  the  blast  entered  a  sunbeam  more  clear  by  seven  times 
than  ever  they  saw  day,  and  all  they  were  alighted  of  the 
grace  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Then  began  every  knight  to 
behold  other,  and  either  saw  other  by  their  seeming  fairer 
than  ever  they  saw  afore,  [and]  there  was  no  knight  that 
might  speak  one  word  a  great  while,  and  so  they  looked 
every  man  on  other,  as  they  had  been  dumb.  Then  there 
entered  into  the  hall  the  Holy  Grail  covered  with  white 
samite,  but  there  was  none  might  see  it,  nor  who  bare  it. 
And  there  was  all  the  hall  full  filled  with  good  odors,  and 
every  knight  had  such  meats  and  drinks  as  he  best  loved 
in  this  world ;  and  when  the  Holy  Grail  had  been  borne 
through  the  hall,  then  the  holy  vessel  departed  suddenly, 
that  they  wist  not  where  it  became.  Then  had  they  all 
breath  to  speak.  And  then  the  king  yielded  thankings 
unto  God  of  His  good  grace  that  He  had  sent  them. 

"  Now,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "  we  have  been  served  this 
day  of  what  meats  and  drinks  we  thought  on,  but  one 
thing  beguiled  us,  we  might  not  see  the  Holy  Grail,  it  was 
•o  preciously  covered :  wherefore  I  will  make  here  avow, 
that  to-morn,  without  longer  abiding,  I  shall  labor  in  the 
quest  of  the  Sancgreal,  that  I  shall  hold  me  out  a  twelve- 
month and  a  day,  or  more  if  need  be,  and  never  shall  I 
return  again  unto  the  court  till  I  have  seen  it  more  openly 
than  it  hath  been  seen  here :  and  if  I  may  not  speed,  I 
shall  return  again  as  he  that  may  not  be  against  the  will 
of  our  Lord  Jesu  Christ." 


Of  Sir  Galahad  and  Sir  Percival.       275 

When  they  of  the  Table  Round  heard  Sir  Gawaine  say 
so,  they  arose  up  the  most  part,  and  made  such  avows  as 
Sir  Gawaine  had  made. 

Anon  as  King  Arthur  heard  this  he  was  greatly  dis- 
pleased, for  he  wist  well  that  they  might  not  gainsay  theii 
avows. 

"  Alas ! "  said  King  Arthur  unto  Sir  Gawaine,  "  ye  have 
nigh  slain  me  with  the  avow  and  promise  that  ye  have 
made.  For  through  you  ye  have  bereft  me  of  the  fairest 
fellowship  and  the  truest  of  knighthood  that  ever  were 
seen  together  in  any  realm  of  the  world.  For  when  they 
depart  from  hence,  I  am  sure  they  all  shall  never  meet 
more  in  this  world,  for  they  shall  die  many  in  the  quest. 
And  so  it  forethinketh  \repsnteth~\  me  a  little,  for  I  have 
loved  them  as  well  as  my  life,  wherefore  it  shall  grieve  me 
right  sore  the  departing  of  this  fellowship.  For  I  have 
had  an  old  custom  to  have  them  in  my  fellowship." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

How  GREAT  SORROW  WAS  MADE  OF  THE  KINO  AMD  THE  QUEEN  AND 
LADIES  FOE  THE  DEPARTING  OF  THE  KNIGHTS,  •  AND  HOW  THEY 
DEPARTED. 

AND  therewith  the  tears  fell  into  his  eyes,  and  he 
said:  "Sir  Gawaine,  Sir  Gawaine,  ye  have  set  me 
in  great  sorrow,  for  I  have  great  doubt  that  my  true  fel- 
lowship shall  never  meet  more  here  again." 

When  the  queen,  ladies,  and  gentlewomen  wist  these 
tidings,  they  had  such  sorrow  and  heaviness  that  no 
tongue  might  tell  it,  for  those  knights  had  holden  them 
in  honor  and  charity,  but  a^Tiong  all  other,  Queen  Guen 


276  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

ever  made  great  sorrow.  "  I  marvel,"  said  she,  "  my  lord 
will  suffer  them  to  depart  from  him."  Thus  was  all  the 
court  troubled,  because  those  knights  should  depart. 

After  this  the  queen  came  unto  Sir  Galahad,  and  asked 
him  of  whence  he  was,  and  of  what  country  ;  he  told  her 
of  whence  he  was,  and  son  unto  Sir  Launcelot  she  said  he 
was. 

And  then  they  went  to  rest  them ;  and  in  the  honor 
of  the  highness  of  Sir  Galahad  he  was  led  into  King 
Arthur's  chamber,  and  there  he  rested  him  in  his  own 
bed ;  and  as  soon  as  it  was  daylight  the  king  arose,  for  he 
had  taken  no  rest  of  all  that  night  for  sorrow. 

So  anon  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Gawaine  commanded 
their  men  to  bring  their  arms ;  and  when  they  [were  al 
armed,  then  the  king  would  know  how  many  they  were, 
and  they  found  by  tale  \counf\  that  they  were  an  hundred 
and  fifty,  and  all  knights  of  the  Round  Table.] 

And  so  they  mounted  their  horses,  and  rode  through 
the  streets  of  Camelot,  and  there  was  weeping  of  the 
rich  and  poor,  and  the  king  turned  away  and  might  not 
speak  for  weeping. 

So  within  a  while  they  came  to  a  city  and  a  castle  that 
bight  [was  named}  Vagon ;  there  they  entered  into  the 
castle,  and  the  lord  of  that  castle  was  an  old  man  that 
bight  Vagon,  and  he  was  a  good  man  of  his  living,  and 
act  open  the  gates,  and  made  them  all  the  good  cheer  that 
he  might. 

And  then  they  departed  on  the  morrow  with  weeping 
and  mourning  cheer,  and  every  knight  took  the  way  that 
him  best  liked. 


Of  Sir  Galahad  and  Sir  Percival.        277 


CHAPTER  V. 
How  Sim  GALAHAD  GAT  HIM  A  SHIELD,  AND  HOW  THEY  SPED  THAT 

PRESUMED  TO  TAKE  DOWN  THAT  SHIELD. 

NOW  rideth  Sir  Galahad  yet  without  shield ;  and  so 
he  rode  four  days  without  any  adventure,  and  at  the 
fourth  day  after  even-song  he  came  to  a  white  abbey,  and 
there  he  was  received  with  great  reverence,  and  led  to  a 
chamber ;  and  there  he  was  unarmed,  and  then  was  he 
ware  of  two  knights  of  the  Round  Table,  one  was  King 
Bagdemagus,  and  that  other  was  Sir  Uwaine.  And  when 
they  saw  him,  they  went  unto  him  and  made  of  him  great 
solace,  and  so  they  went  to  supper. 

"Sirs,"  said  Sir  Galahad,  "what  adventure  brought  you 
hither?" 

"Sir,"  said  they,  "it  is  told  us  that  within  this  place 
is  a  shield  that  no  man  may  bear  about  his  neck  but  if 
that  he  be  mischieved  or  dead  within  three  days,  or  else 
maimed  forever." 

"Ah,  sir,"  said  King  Bagdemagus,  "I  shall  bear  it 
to-morrow  for  to  assay  this  strange  adventure." 

"  In  the  name  of  God,"  said  Sir  Galahad. 

"  Sir,"  said  King  Bagdemagus,  "  and  I  may  not  achieve 
the  adventure  of  this  shield,  ye  shall  take  it  upon  you,  for 
I  am  sure  ye  shall  not  fail." 

"  Sir,"  said  Sir  Galahad,  "  I  agree  right  well  thereto,  for 
I  have  no  shield." 

So  on  the  morrow  they  arose  and  heard  mass.  Then 
King  Bagdemagus  asked  where  the  adventurous  shield 
was ;  anon  a  monk  led  him  behind  an  altar,  where  the 
shield  hung  as  white  as  any  snow,  but  in  the  midst  was  a 
red  cross. 


The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


"Sir,"  said  the  monk,  "this  shield  ought  not  to  be 
hanged  about  no  knight's  neck,  but  he  be  the  worthiest 
knight  of  the  world,  and  therefore  I  counsel  you  knights 
to  be  well  advised." 

"  Well,"  said  King  Bagdemagus,  "  I  wot  well  that  I  am 
not  the  best  knight  of  the  world,  but  yet  shall  I  assay  to 
bear  it." 

And  so  he  bare  it  out  of  the  monastery  ;  and  then  he 
said  unto  Sir  Galahad,  "  If  it  will  please  you,  I  pray  you 
abide  here  still,  till  ye  know  how  I  shall  speed." 

"  I  shall  abide  you  here,"  said  Galahad. 

Then  King  Bagdemagus  took  with  him  a  squire,  the 
which  should  bring  tidings  unto  Sir  Galahad  how  he  sped. 
Then  when  they  had  ridden  a  two  mile,  and  came  in  a  fair 
valley  afore  an  hermitage,  then  they  saw  a  goodly  knight 
come  from  that  part  in  white  armor,  horse  and  all,  and  he 
came  as  fast  as  his  horse  might  run  with  his  spear  in  the 
rest,  and  King  Bagdemagus  dressed  his  spear  against  him, 
and  brake  it  upon  the  white  knight  ;  but  the  other  struck 
him  so  hard  that  he  brake  the  mails,  and  thrust  him  through 
the  right  shoulder,  for  the  shield  covered  him  not  as  at 
that  time,  and  so  he  bare  him  from  his  horse,  and  there- 
with he  alighted  and  took  the  white  shield  from  him,  say- 
ing, "  Knight,  thou  hast  done  thyself  great  folly,  for  this 
shield  ought  not  to  be  borne  but  by  him  that  shall  have 
no  peer  that  liveth." 

And  then  he  came  to  King  Bagdemagus'  squire  and 
said,  "  Bear  this  shield  unto  the  good  knight  Sir  Galahad, 
that  thou  left  in  the  abbey,  and  greet  him  well  from  me." 

And  the  squire  went  unto  Bagdemagus  and  asked  him 
whether  he  were  sore  wounded  or  not  ? 

"  Yea,  forsooth,"  said  he,  "  I  shall  escape  hard  from  the 
death." 


Of  Sir  Galahad  and  Sir  Percival.       270 

Then  he  fetched  his  horse,  and  brought  him  with  great 
pain  unto  an  abbey.  Then  was  he  taken  down  softly,  and 
unarmed,  and  laid  in  a  bed,  and  there  was  looked  to  his 
wDunds.  And  he  lay  there  long,  and  escaped  hard  with 
the  life. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

How  GALAHAD  DEPARTED  WITH  THE  SHIELD,  AND  HOW  KINO  EVELAKX 

HAD  RECEIVED  THE  SHIELD  OF  JOSEPH  OF  ARIMATHEA. 

SIR  GALAHAD,"  said  the  squire,  "  that  knight  that 
wounded  Bagdemagus  sendeth  you  greeting,  and  bade 
that  ye  should  bear  this  shield,  wherethrough  great  ad- 
ventures should  befall." 

"Now  blessed  be  God  and  fortune,"  said  Sir  Galahad. 

And  then  he  asked  his  arms,  and  mounted  upon  his 
horse,  and  hung  the  white  shield  about  his  neck,  and 
commended  them  unto  God.  And  Sir  Uwaine  said  he 
would  bear  him  fellowship,  if  it  pleased  him. 

"  Sir,"  said  Sir  Galahad,  "  that  may  ye  not,  for  I  must 
go  alone,  save  this  squire  that  shall  bear  me  fellowship." 
And  so  departed  Sir  Uwaine. 

Then  within  a  while  came  Sir  Galahad  there  as  the 
white  knight  abode  him  by  the  hermKage,  and  every  each 
saluted  other  courteously. 

"  Sir,"  said  Sir  Galahad,  "  by  this  shield  been  fall  many 
marvels." 

"  Sir,"  said  the  knight,  "  it  befell,  after  the  passion  of 
our  Lord  Jesu  Christ  thirty  year,  that  Joseph  of  Ari- 
mathea,  the  gentle  knight  that  took  down  our  Lord  from 
the  cross,  at  that  time  he  departed  from  Jerusalem  with 
a  great  part  of  his  kindred  with  him,  and  so  they  labored 


28o  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

till  they  came  to  a  city  that  hight  Sarras.  And  at  that 
same  hour  that  Joseph  came  unto  Sarras,  there  was  a  king 
that  hight  Evelake,  that  had  great  war  against  the  Sara- 
cens, and  in  especial  against  one  Saracen,  the  which  was 
King  Evelake' s  cousin,  a  rich  king  and  a  mighty,  the 
which  marched  nigh  this  land,  and  his  name  was  called 
Tollome  le  Feintes.  So  upon  a  day  these  two  met  to  do 
battle.  Then  Joseph,  the  son  of  Joseph  of  Arimathea,  went 
anto  King  Evelake,  and  told  him  that  he  would  be  dis- 
comfited and  slain  but  if  he  left  his  believe  of  the  old  law 
and  believe  upon  the  new  law.  And  then  he  showed  him 
the  right  believe  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  the  which  he  agreed 
with  all  his  heart,  and  there  this  shield  was  made  for  King 
Evelake,  in  the  name  of  Him  that  died  upon  the  cross ; 
and  then  through  his  good  believe  he  had  the  better  of 
King  Tollome.  For  when  King  Evelake  was  in  the  battle, 
there  was  a  cloth  set  afore  the  shield,  and  when  he  was  in 
the  greatest  peril  he  let  put  away  the  cloth,  and  then  anon 
his  enemies  saw  a  figure  of  a  man  upon  the  cross,  where- 
through, they  were  discomfited.  And  so  it  befell  that  a 
man  of  King  Evelake's  had  his  hand  smitten  off,  and  bare 
his  hand  in  his  other  hand,  and  Joseph  called  that  man 
unto  him,  and  bade  him  go  with  good  devotion  and  touch 
the  cross  ;  and  as  soon  as  that  man  had  touched  the  cross 
with  his  hand  it  was  as  whole  as  ever  it  was  before.  Not 
long  after  that,  Joseph  was  laid  in  his  death  bed,  and 
when  King  Evelake  saw  that,  he  made  great  sorrow,  and 
said:  'For  thy  love  I  have  left  my  country,  and  sith 
[since]  thou  shalt  out  of  this  world,  leave  me  soirie  token 
that  I  may  think  on  thee.'  'That  will  I  do  right  gladly/ 
said  Joseph.  '  Now  bring  me  the  shield  that  I  took  you 
when  ye  went  into  the  battle  against  King  Tollome.' 
Then  Joseph  bled  sore  that  he  might  not  by  no  means 


Of  Sir  Galahad  and  Sir  Percival.        281 

be  stanched,  and  there  upon  that  same  shield  he  made  a 
cross  of  his  own  blood.  'Now  ye  shall  never  see  this 
shield  but  that  ye  shall  think  on  me,  and  it  shall  be 
always  as  fresh  as  it  is  now,  and  never  shall  no  man  bear 
this  shield  about  his  neck  but  he  shall  repent  it,  unto  the 
time  that  Galahad  the  good  knight  bear  it,  and  the  last 
of  my  lineage  shall  have  it  about  his  neck,  that  shall  do 
many  marvellous  deeds.'  '  Now,'  said  King  Evelake, 
'where  shall  I  put  this  shield,  that  this  worthy  knight 
may  have  it  ? '  '  Ye  shall  leave  it  there  as  Nacien  the 
hermit  shall  be  put  after  his  death.  For  thither  shall 
that  good  knight  come  the  fifteenth  day  after  that  he 
shall  receive  the  order  of  knighthood.  And  so  that  day 
that  they  set  is  this  time  that  ye  have  his  shield.  And 
in  the  same  abbey  lieth  Nacien  the  hermit.' " 

And  then  the  white  knight  vanished  away.  Anon,  as 
the  squire  had  heard  these  words,  he  alighted  off  his 
hackney,  and  kneeled  down  at  Galahad's  feet,  and  prayed 
him  that  he  might  go  with  him  till  he  had  made  him 
knight.  So  Sir  Galahad  granted  him,  and  turned  again 
unto  the  abbey  there  they  came  from.  And  there  men 
made  great  joy  of  Sir  Galahad. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

How  SIR  GALAHAD  FOUGHT  WITH  THE  KNIGHTS  OF  THE  CASTLE,  AND 

DESTROYED  THE  WlCKED  CUSTOM. 

THEN  as  Sir  Galahad  heard  this,  he  thanked  God,  and 
took  his  horse,  and  he  had  not  ridden  but  half  a 
mile,  he  saw  in  a  valley  before  him  a  strong  castle  with 
deep  ditches,  and  there  ran  beside  a  fair  river,  the  which 


282  The  Boy's  King  Arthur 

Light  Sevarne ;  and  there  he  met  with  a  man  of  great  age, 
and  either  saluted  other,  and  Sir  Galahad  asked  him  what 
was  the  castle's  name. 

*  Fair  sir,"  said  he,  "  it  is  the  Castle  of  Maidens." 

"That  is  a  cursed  castle,"  said  Sir  Galahad,  "and  all 
they  that  been  conversant  therein,  for  all  pity  is  out 
thereof,  and  all  hardiness  and  mischief  is  therein." 

"  Therefore  I  counsel  you,  sir  knight,"  said  the  old  man, 
"to  return  again." 

"  Sir,"  said  Sir  Galahad,  "  wit  ye  well  I  shall  not  return 
again." 

Then  looked  Sir  Galahad  on  his  armor  that  nothing 
failed  him,  and  then  he  put  his  shield  afore  him ;  and  anon 
there  met  him  seven  maidens,  that  said  unto  him,  "Sir 
knight,  ye  ride  here  in  a  great  folly,  for  ye  have  the  waters 
for  to  pass  over." 

"  Why  should  I  not  pass  the  water  ? "  said  Sir  Galahad. 

So  rode  he  away  from  them,  and  met  with  a  squire  that 
said,  "  Knight,  those  knights  in  the  castle  defy  you,  and 
forbid  you  ye  go  no  further  till  that  they  wit  what  ye 
would." 

"Fair  sir,"  said  Galahad,  "I  come  for  to  destroy  the 
wicked  custom  of  this  castle." 

"  Sir,  and  ye  will  abide  by  that,  ye  shall  have  enough  to 
do." 

"Go  you  now,"  said  Galahad,  "and  haste  my  needs." 

Then  the  squire  entered  into  the  castle.  And  anon 
after  there  came  out  of  the  castle  seven  knights,  and  all 
were  brethren.  And  when  they  saw  Galahad,  they  cried, 
"Knight,  keep  thee,  for  we  assure  thee  nothing  but 
death." 

"Why,"  said  Galahad,  "will  ye  all  have  ado  with  me  at 
once?" 


Of  Sir  Galahad  and  Sir  PercivaL        283 

"Yea,"  said  they,  "thereto  mayest  thou  trust." 

Then  Galahad  put  forth  his  spear,  and  smote  the  fore- 
most to  the  earth,  that  near  he  brake  his  neck.  And 
therewith  all  the  other  smote  him  on  his  shield  great 
strokes,  so  that  their  spears  brake.  Then  Sir  Galahad 
drew  out  his  sword,  and  set  upon  them  so  hard  that  it  was 
marvel  to  see  it,  and  so,  through  great  force,  he  made 
them  to  forsake  the  field ;  and  Galahad  chased  them  till 
they  entered  into  the  castle,  and  so  passed  through  the 
castle  at  another  gate.  And  there  met  Sir  Galahad  an  old 
man  clothed  in  religious  clothing,  and  said,  "  Sir,  have 
here  the  keys  of  this  castle." 

Then  Sir  Galahad  opened  the  gates,  and  saw  so  much 
people  in  the  streets  that  he  might  not  number  them,  and 
all  said,  "Sir,  ye  be  welcome,  for  long  have  we  abiden 
here  our  deliverance." 

Then  came  to  him  a  gentlewoman,  and  said,  "These 
knights  be  fled,  but  they  will  come  again  this  night,  and 
here  to  begin  again  their  evil  custom." 

"What  will  ye  that  I  shall  do  ? "  said  Galahad. 

"  Sir,"  said  the  gentlewoman,  "  that  ye  send  after  all  the 
knights  hither  that  hold  their  lands  of  this  castle,  and 
make  them  to  swear  for  to  use  the  customs  that  were  used 
heretofore  of  old  time." 

"  I  will  well,"  said  Galahad. 

And  there  she  brought  him  an  horn  of  ivory,  bounden 
with  gold,  and  said,  "  Sir,  blow  ye  this  horn,  which  will  be 
heard  two  mile  about  this  castle." 

And  when  Sir  Galahad  had  blown  the  horn,  he  set  him 
down  upon  a  bed.  Then  came  there  a  priest  unto  Sir 
Galahad,  and  said,  "  Sir,  it  is  past  a  seven  year  that  these 
seven  brethren  came  into  this  castle,  and  herborowed 
[harbored"]  with  the  lord  of  this  castle,  which  hight  the 


284  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

duke  Lianour ;  and  he  was  lord  of  all  this  country.  And 
so  when  they  espied  the  duke's  daughter  that  was  a  fair 
woman,  then  by  their  false  covin  [conspiracy]  they  slew 
him  and  his  eldest  son,  and  then  they  took  the  maiden 
and  the  treasure  of  the  castle.  And  then  by  great  force 
they  held  all  the  knights  of  this  castle  against  their  will 
under  their  obeisance,  and  in  great  servage  and  truage, 
robbing  and  pilling  [pillaging]  the  poor  common  people 
of  all  that  they  had.  So  it  happened  upon  a  day  that  the 
duke's  daughter  said,  '  Ye  have  done  to  me  great  wrong 
to  slay  mine  own  father  and  my  brother,  and  thus  to  hold 
our  lands ;  not  for  then,'  said  she,  *  ye  shall  not  hold  this 
castle  for  many  years  ;  for  by  one  knight  ye  shall  be  over- 
come.' Thus  she  prophesied  seven  year  before.  *  Well,' 
said  the  seven  knights,  '  sithence  [since]  ye  say  so,  there 
shall  never  lady  nor  knight  pass  this  castle,  but  they  shall 
abide  mauger  [spite  of]  their  heads,  or  die  therefore,  till 
that  knight  be  come  by  whom  we  shall  leese  [lose]  this 
castle.'  And  therefore  it  is  called  the  maidens'  castle, 
for  they  have  devoured  many  maidens." 

"  Now,"  said  Sir  Galahad,  "  is  she  here  for  whom  this 
castle  was  lost  ? " 

"  Nay,"  said  the  priest,  "  she  died  within  three  nights 
after,  and  sithence  have  they  kept  her  young  sister,  which 
endureth  great  pain,  with  moe  other  ladies." 

By  this  were  the  knights  of  the  country  come.  And 
then  he  made  them  do  homage  and  fealty  to  the  duke's 
daughter,  and  set  them  in  great  ease  of  heart.  And  in 
the  morn  there  came  one  to  Galahad,  and  told  hiir  how 
that  Gawaine,  Gareth,  and  Uwaine  had  slain  the  seven 
brethren. 

"  I  suppose  well,"  said  Sir  Galahad :  and  took  his  armor 
and  his  horse,  and  commended  them  unto  God. 


Of  Sir  Galahad  and  Sir  Percival.        285 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

How  SIR  GALAHAD  MET  WITH  SIR  LAITI»CELOT  AND  WITH  SIR  PERCI 

VAL,  AND  SMOTE  THEM  DOWN,  AND  DEPARTED  FROM  THEM. 

SO  when  Sir  Galahad  was  departed  from  the  Castle  ol 
Maidens,  he  rode  till  he  came  to  a  waste  forest,  and 
there  he  met  with  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Percival,  but 
they  knew  him  not,  for  he  was  new  disguised.  Right  so, 
Sir  Launcelot  his  father  dressed  his  spear,  and  brake  it 
upon  Sir  Galahad,  and  Sir  Galahad  smote  him  so  again, 
that  he  smote  down  horse  and  man.  And  then  he  dre^ 
his  sword,  and  dressed  him  unto  Sir  Percival,  and  smote 
him  so  on  the  helm  that  it  rove  to  the  coif  of  steel,  and 
had  not  the  sword  swerved  Sir  Percival  had  been  slain, 
and  with  the  stroke  he  fell  out  of  his  saddle.  This  joust 
was  done  before  the  hermitage  where  a  recluse  dwelled. 
And  when  she  saw  Sir  Galahad  ride,  she  said,  "  God  be 
with  thee,  best  knight  of  the  world.  Ah,  certes,"  said  she 
all  aloud,  that  Launcelot  and  Percival  might  hear  it,  "  and 
yonder  two  knights  had  known  thee  as  well  as  I  do,  they 
would  not  have  encountered  with  thee." 

When  Jjir  Galahad  heard  her  say  so  he  was  sore  adread 
to  be  known  :  therewith  he  smote  his  horse  with  his  spurs, 
and  then  rode  a  great  pace  froward  them.  Then  perceived 
they  both  that  he  was  Galahad,  and  up  they  gat  on  their 
horses,  and  rode  fast  after  him,  but  in  a  while  he  was  out 
of  their  sight. 


286  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

EiOW  Si*    PRRC1VAL    RODE    A    FlEND    IN    THE    SHAPE    OF  A  HORSE,  AHB 
HOW  HE  SAW  A  SERPENT  AND  A  LlON  FIGHT. 


it  fell  that  Sir  Percival's  horse  was  slain  ;  and 
he  gat  him  a  hackney  from  a  yeoman  that  he  met, 
and  the  hackney  was  slain.  Then  Sir  Percival]  cast  away 
his  helm  and  sword,  and  said,  "  Now  am  I  a  very  wretch, 
cursed,  and  most  unhappy  above  all  other  knights." 

So  in  this  sorrow  he  abode  all  that  day,  till  it  was  night, 
and  then  he  was  faint,  and  laid  him  down  and  slept  till  it 
was  midnight.  And  then  he  awaked,  and  saw  afore  him 
a  woman  which  said  unto  him,  "Abide  me  here,  and  I 
shall  go  fetch  you  an  horse." 

And  so  she  came  soon  again,  and  brought  an  horse  with 
her  that  was  black.  When  Sir  Percival  beheld  that  horse, 
he  marvelled  that  it  was  so  great  and  so  well  apparelled  ; 
and  for  then  he  was  so  hardy,  he  leaped  upon  him,  and 
took  none  heed  of  himself.  And  so  anon  as  he  was  upon 
him  he  thrust  to  him  with  his  spurs,  and  so  rode  by  a 
forest,  and  the  moon  shone  clear.  And  within  an  hour 
and  less,  he  bare  him  four  days'  journey  thence,  till  he 
came  to  a  rough  water  the  which  roared,  and  nis  horse 
would  have  borne  him  into  it. 

And  when  Sir  Percival  came  nigh  the  brim,  and  saw  the 
water  so  boisterous,  he  doubted  to  overpass  it.  And  then 
he  made  the  sign  of  the  cross  in  his  forehead.  When  the 
fiend  felt  him  so  charged,  he  shook  off  Sir  Percival,  and 
he  went  into  the  water,  crying  and  roaring,  making  great 
sorrow  ;  and  it  seemed  unto  him  that  the  water  burnt 
Then  Sir  Percival  perceived  it  was  a  fiend,  the  which 
would  have  brought  him  unto  his  perdition. 


Of  Sir  Galahad  and  Sir  PercivaL        287 

And  so  he  prayed  all  that  night,  till  on  the  morn  that  it 
was  day.  Then  he  saw  that  he  was  in  a  wild  mountain 
the  which  was  closed  with  the  sea  nigh  all  about,  that  he 
might  see  no  land  about  him  which  might  relieve  him,  but 
wild  beasts.  And  then  he  went  into  a  valley,  and  there 
he  saw  a  young  serpent  bring  a  young  lion  by  the  neck, 
and  so  he  came  by  Sir  PercivaL  With  that  came  a  great 
lion  crying  and  roaring  after  the  serpent.  And  as  fast  as 
Sir  Percival  saw  this,  he  marvelled,  and  hied  him  thither, 
but  anon  the  lion  had  overtaken  the  serpent,  and  began 
battle  with  him.  And  then  Sir  Percival  thought  to  help 
the  lion,  for  he  was  the  more  natural  beast  of  the  two ; 
and  therewith  he  drew  his  sword,  and  set  his  shield  afore 
him,  and  there  gave  the  serpent  such  a  buffet  that  he  had 
a  deadly  wound.  When  the  lion  saw  that,  he  made  no 
semblant  to  fight  with  him,  but  made  him  all  the  cheer 
that  a  beast  might  make  a  man.  Then  Sir  Percival  per- 
ceived that,  and  cast  down  his  shield,  which  was  broken, 
and  then  he  did  off  his  helm  for  to  gather  wind,  for  he 
was  greatly  enchafed  with  the  serpent.  And  the  lion 
went  alway  about  him  fawning  as  a  spaniel.  And  thep 
he  stroked  him  on  the  neck  and  on  the  shoulders.  Ana 
then  he  thanked  God  of  the  fellowship  of  that  beast. 
And  about  noon,  the  lion  took  his  little  whelp,  and  trussed 
him,  and  bare  him  there  he  came  from.  Then  was  Sir 
Percival  alone. 

Thus  when  Sir  Percival  had  prayed,  he  saw  the  lion 
come  toward  him,  and  then  he  couched  down  at  his  feet. 
And  so  all  that  night  the  lion  and  he  slept  together ;  and 
when  Sir  Percival  slept  he  dreamed  a  marvellous  dream, 
that  there  two  ladies  met  with  him,  and  that  one  sat  upon 
a  lion,  and  that  other  sat  upon  a  serpent,  and  that  one  of 
them  was  young,  and  the  other  was  old,  and  the  youngest 


288  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

him  thought  said,  "Sir  Percival,  my  lord  saluteth  thee, 
and  sendeth  thee  word  that  thou  array  thee  and  make 
thee  ready,  for  to-morrow  thou  must  fight  with  the 
strongest  champion  of  the  world." 


CHAPTER  X. 

OF  WONDERS  AND  MARVELS  OF  A  SHIP,  AND  OF  A  SWORD  WHICH  Sit 
GALAHAD  FOUND  THEREIN. 

f 'TWEEN,  after  many  great  deeds,  it  befell  on  a  certain 
L  -L  day  that  as  the  good  knight  Galahad  rode,  he  was 
met  by  a  damsel  on  a  palfrey,  and  she  led  him  towards 
the  sea.  And  so  at  the  seaside  they  found  a  ship  wherein 
they  entered,  and  Sir  Bors  and  Sir  Percival  being  in  that 
ship  greeted  them  with  joy.] 

By  then  the  ship  went  from  the  land  of  Logris,  and  by 
adventure  it  arrived  up  betwixt  two  rocks  passing  great 
and  marvellous,  but  there  they  might  not  land,  for  there 
was  a  swallow  of  the  sea,  save  there  was  another  ship, 
and  upon  it  they  might  go  without  danger. 

"  Go  we  thither,"  said  the  gentlewoman,  "  and  there 
shall  we  see  adventures,  for  so  is  our  Lord's  will." 

And  when  they  came  thither,  they  found  the  ship  rich 
enough,  but  they  found  neither  man  nor  woman  therein. 
But  they  found  in  the  end  of  the  ship  two  fair  letters 
written,  which  said  a  dreadful  word  and  a  marvellous  :  — 

"  Thou  man  which  shall  enter  into  this  ship,  beware 
thou  be  in  steadfast  belief,  for  I  am  faith,  and  therefore 
beware  how  thou  enterest,  for  and  thou  fail  I  shall  not 
help  thee." 

Then  said  the  gentlewoman,  "  Percival,  wot  ye  what  I 
am?" 


Of  Sir  Galahad  and  Sir  Percival.        289 

"  Certainly,"  said  he,  "  not  to  my  witting." 

"Wit  ye  well,"  said  she,  "I  am  thy  sister,  that  am 
daughter  of  King  Pellinore,  and  therefore  wit  ye  well  that 
ye  are  the  man  in  the  world  that  I  most  love ;  and  if  ye 
be  not  in  perfect  belief,  enter  not  in  no  manner  of  wise, 
for  then  should  ye  perish  in  the  ship,  for  it  is  so  perfect  it 
will  suffer  no  sin  in  it." 

And  when  Sir  Percival  knew  that  she  was  his  sister,  he 
was  inwardly  glad,  and  said,  "  Fair  sister,  I  shall  enter 
therein,  for  if  I  be  a  miss-creature  or  an  untrue  knight, 
there  shall  I  perish." 

In  the  meanwhile  Sir  Galahad  blessed  him,  and  entered 
therein,  and  then  next  the  gentlewoman,  and  then  Sir 
Bors  and  Sir  Percival.  And  when  they  were  therein, 
they  found  it  so  marvellous  fair  and  rich,  that  they  had 
great  marvel  thereof.  And  in  the  midst  of  the  ship 
was  a  fair  bed,  and  Sir  Galahad  went  thereto,  and  found 
there  a  crown  of  silk,  and  at  the  feet  was  a  sword  rich 
and  fair,  and  it  was  drawn  out  of  the  sheath  half  a  foot 
and  more,  and  the  sword  was  of  divers  fashions,  and  the 
pommel  was  of  stone,  and  there  was  in  him  all  manner  of 
colors  that  any  man  might  find,  and  every  each  of  the 
colors  had  divers  virtues,  and  the  scales  of  the  haft  were 
of  two  ribs  of  divers  beasts.  The  one  beast  was  a  serpent, 
which  was  conversant  in  Calidone,  and  is  called  the  serpent 
of  the  fiend.  And  the  bone  of  him  is  of  such  a  virtue, 
that  there  is  no  hand  that  handleth  him  shall  never  be 
weary  nor  hurt.  And  the  other  beast  is  a  fish  which  is  not 
right  great,  and  haunteth  the  flood  of  Eufrates ;  and  that 
fish  is  called  Ertanax,  and  his  bones  be  of  such  a  manner 
of  kind,  that  who  that  handleth  them  shall  have  so  much 
will  that  he  shall  never  be  weary,  and  he  shall  not  think 
on  joy  nor  sorrow  that  he  hath  had,  but  only  that  thing 


290  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

that  he  beholdeth  before  him.  And  as  for  this  sword 
there  shall  never  man  begripe  it  at  the  handle  but  one, 
but  he  shall  pass  all  other. 

"  In  the  name  of  God,"  said  Sir  Percival,  "  I  shall  essay 
U  handle  it." 

So  he  set  his  hand  to  the  sword,  but  he  might  not 
begripe  it. 

"By  my  faith,"  said  he,  "now  have  I  failed." 

Sir  Bors  set  his  hand  thereto  and  failed.  Then  Sir 
Galahad  beheld  the  sword,  and  saw  the  letters  like  blood, 
that  said,  "  Let  see  who  shall  assay  to  draw  me  out  of  my 
sheath,  but  if  he  be  more  hardier  than  other,  and  who 
that  draweth  me,  wit  ye  well  that  he  shall  never  fail  of 
shame  of  his  body,  or  to  be  wounded  to  the  death." 

"  By  my  faith,"  said  Galahad,  "  I  would  draw  this  sword 
out  of  the  sheath,  but  the  offending  is  so  great  that  I 
shall  not  set  my  hand  thereto." 

"Now  sir,"  said  the  gentlewoman,  "wit  ye  well  that 
the  drawing  of  this  sword  is  forbidden  to  all  men,  save 
all  only  unto  you.  Also  this  ship  arrived  in  the  realm  of 
Logris  \England\  and  that  time  was  deadly  war  between 
King  Labor,  which  was  father  unto  the  maimed  king,  and 
King  Hurlame,  which  was  a  Saracen.  But  then  was  he 
newly  christened,  so  that  men  held  him  afterwards  one  of 
the  wittiest  men  of  the  world.  And  so  upon  a  day  it 
befell  that  King  Labor  and  King  Hurlame  had  assembled 
their  folk  upon  the  sea,  where  this  ship  was  arrived,  and 
there  King  Hurlame  was  discomfit,  and  his  men  slain, 
and  he  was  afeared  to  be  dead,  and  fled  to  his  ship,  and 
there  found  this  sword,  and  drew  it,  and  came  out  and 
found  King  Labor,  the  man  in  the  world  of  all  Christen- 
dom in  whom  was  then  the  greatest  faith.  And  when 
King  Hurlame  saw  King  Labor,  he  dress- ed  this  sword, 


Of  Sir  Galahad  and  Sir  Percival.        291 

and  smote  him  upon  the  helm  so  hard,  that  he  clave  him 
and  his  horse  to  the  earth  with  the  first  stroke  of  his 
sword.  And  it  was  in  the  realm  of  Logris  ;  and  so  befell 
great  pestilence  and  great  harm  to  both  realms.  For  sith 
increased  corn  nor  grass,  nor  well  nigh  no  fruit,  nor  in  the 
water  was  no  fish,  wherefore  men  call  it  the  lands  of  the 
two  marches,  the  waste  land  for  the  dolorous  stroke.  And 
when  King  Hurlame  saw  that  this  sword  was  so  kerving 
\sharp\t  he  returned  again  to  fetch  the  scabbard,  and  so 
came  into  this  ship,  and  entered  and  put  the  sword  into 
the  scabbard  ;  and  as  soon  as  he  had  done  so,  he  fell  down 
dead  before  the  bed.  Thus  was  the  sword  proved,  that 
none  that  drew  it  but  he  were  dead  or  maimed." 


CHAPTER  XL 

How  KING  PKLLKS  WAS  SMITTEN  THROUGH  BOTH  THIGHS  BECAUSE  rat 

DREW  THE  SWORD,  AND  OTHER  MARVELLOUS  HISTORIES. 

SIR,"  said  she,  "there  was  a  king  that  hight  Pelles  tne 
Maimed  King.  And  while  he  might  ride,  he  supported 
much  Christendom,  and  holy  Church.  So  upon  a  day  he 
hunted  in  a  wood  of  his  which  lasted  unto  the  sea,  and  at 
the  last  he  lost  his  hounds  and  his  knights,  save  only  one ; 
and  there  he  and  his  knight  went  till  that  they  came  tow- 
ard Ireland,  and  there  he  found  the  ship.  And  when  he 
saw  the  letters  and  understood  them,  yet  he  entered,  for 
he  was  right  perfect  of  his  life  ;  but  his  knight  had  none 
hardiness  to  enter,  and  there  found  he  this  sword,  and 
drew  it  out  as  much  as  ye  may  see.  So  therewith  entered 
a  spear,  wherewith  he  was  smitten  through  both  the 
thighs,  and  never  sith  might  he  be  healed,  nor  nought 


The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


shall,  tofore  we  come  to  him.  Thus,  said  she,  was  King 
Pelles,  your  grandsire,  maimed  for  his  hardiness/* 

"In  the  name  of  God,  damsel,"  said  Galahad. 

So  they  went  toward  the  bed  to  behold  all  about  it,  and 
above  the  head  there  hung  two  swords.  Also  there  were 
two  spindles  which  were  as  white  as  any  snow,  and  other 
that  were  as  red  as  blood,  and  other  above  green  as  any 
emerald  :  of  these  three  colors  were  the  spindles,  and  of 
natural  color  within,  and  without  any  painting. 

"  These  spindles,'*  said  the  damsel,  "  were  when  sinful 
Eve  came  to  gather  fruit,  for  which  Adam  and  she  were 
put  out  of  paradise,  she  took  with  her  the  bough  on 
which  the  apple  hung.  Then  perceived  she  that  the 
branch  was  fair  and  green,  and  she  remembered  her  the 
loss  which  came  from  the  tree,  then  she  thought  to  keep 
the  branch  as  long  as  she  might  ;  and  because  she  had  no 
coffer  to  keep  it  in,  she  put  it  into  the  ground.  So  by  the 
will  of  our  Lord  the  branch  grew  to  a  great  tree  within  a 
little  while,  and  was  as  white  as  any  snow,  branches, 
boughs,  and  leaves,  that  it  was  a  token  a  maid  planted  it. 
And  anon  the  tree,  that  was  white,  became  as  green  as 
any  grass,  and  all  that  came  of  it.  And  so  it  befell  many 
days  after,  under  the  same  tree,  Cain  slew  his  brother 
Abel,  whereof  befell  full  great  marvel  ;  for  anon  as  Abel 
had  received  the  death  under  the  green  tree,  it  lost  the 
green  color  and  became  red,  and  that  was  in  tokening  of 
the  blood  ;  and  anon  all  the  plants  died  thereof,  but  the 
tree  grew  and  waxed  marvellous  fair,  and  it  was  the  fairest 
tree  and  the  most  delectable  that  any  man  might  behold  ; 
and  so  died  the  plants  that  grew  out  of  it  before  the  time 
that  Abel  was  slain  under  it.  So  long  endured  the  tree 
till  that  Solomon,  King  David's  son,  reigned  and  held  the 
land  after  his  father.  This  Solomon  was  wise  and  knew 


Of  Sir  Galahad  and  Sir  PercivaL        293 

the  virtues  of  stones  and  of  trees,  and  so  he  knew  the 
course  of  the  stars,  and  many  other  things.  This  King 
Solomon  had  an  evil  wife,  wherethrough  he  wend  that 
there  had  never  been  no  good  woman  ;  and  so  he  despised 
them  in  his  books.  So  a  voice  answered  him  once,  '  Solo- 
mon, if  heaviness  come  unto  a  man  by  a  woman,  ne 
reck  thou  never ;  for  yet  shall  there  come  a  woman  where- 
of there  shall  come  greater  joy  unto  man  an  hundred 
times  more  than  this  heaviness  giveth  sorrow,  and  that 
woman  shall  be  born  of  thy  lineage/  Then  when  Solo- 
mon heard  these  words,  he  held  himself  but  a  fool,  and 
the  truth  he  perceived  by  old  books.  Also  the  Holy 
Ghost  showed  him  the  coming  of  the  glorious  Virgin 
Mary.  Then  asked  he  of  the  voice  if  it  should  be  in  the 
end  of  his  lineage.  '  Nay,'  said  the  voice,  *  but  there  shall 
come  a  man  which  shall  be  a  [pure  man]  of  your  blood, 
and  he  shall  be  as  good  a  knight  as  Duke  Josua  thy 
brother-in-law. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

How  SOLOMON  TOOK  DAVID'S  SWORD  BY  THE  COUNSEL  OF  HIS  WIFE 
AND  OF  OTHER  MATTERS  MARVELLOUS. 

NOW  have  I  certified  thee  of  that  thou  stoodst  IL 
doubt/  Then  was  Solomon  glad  that  there  shoulr» 
come  any  such  of  his  lineage,  but  ever  he  marvelled  and 
studied  who  that  should  be,  and  what  his  name  might  be. 
His  wife  perceived  that  he  studied,  and  thought  that  she 
would  know  it  at  some  season,  and  so  she  waited  her  time, 
and  asked  of  him  the  cause  of  his  studying,  and  there  he 
told  her  altogether  how  the  voice  told  him.  *  Well,'  said 
she,  *  I  shall  Jet  make  a  ship  of  the  best  wood  and  most 


294  2^  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

durable  that  men  may  find.'  So  Solomon  sent  for  all  the 
carpenters  of  the  land  and  the  best.  And  when  they  had 
made  the  ship,  the  lady  said  to  Solomon,  '  Sir,'  said  she, 
'  since  it  is  so  that  this  knight  ought  to  pass  all  other 
knights  of  chivalry  which  have  been  tofore  him,  and  shall 
come  after  him,  moreover  I  shall  tell  you,'  said  she,  'ye 
shall  go  into  our  Lord's  temple,  whereas  is  King  David's 
sword,  your  father,  the  which  is  the  marvellousest  and 
sharpest  that  ever  was  taken  in  any  knight's  hand. 
Therefore  take  that,  and  take  off  the  pommel,  and  thereto 
make  ye  a  pommel  of  precious  stones,  that  it  be  so  sub- 
tilly  made  that  no  man  perceive  it  but  that  they  be  all 
one.  And  after  make  there  an  hilt  so  marvellously  and 
wonderly  that  no  man  may  know  it ;  and  after  make  a 
marvellous  sheath ;  and  when  you  have  made  all  this,  I 
shall  let  make  a  girdle  thereto,  such  as  shall  please  you.' 
All  this  King  Solomon  let  make  as  she  devised,  both  the 
ship  and  all  the  remnant.  And  when  the  ship  was  ready 
in  the  sea  for  to  sail,  the  lady  let  make  a  great  bed  and 
marvellous  rich,  and  set  her  upon  the  bed's  head  covered 
with  silk,  and  laid  the  sword  at  the  bed's  feet ;  and  the 
girdles  were  of  hemp.  And  therewith  was  the  king 
angry.  '  Sir,  wit  ye  well,'  said  she,  '  that  I  have  none  so 
high  a  thing  that  were  worthy  to  sustain  so  big  a  sword, 
and  a  maid  shall  bring  other  knights  thereto,  but  I  wot 
not  when  it  shall  be,  nor  what  time.'  And  there  she  let 
make  a  covering  to  the  ship,  of  cloth  of  silk  that  shall 
never  rot  for  no  manner  of  weather.  Yet  went  that  lady 
and  made  a  carpenter  to  come  to  that  tree  which  Abel 
was  slain  under.  '  Now,'  said  she,  '  carve  me  out  of  this 
tree  as  much  wood  as  will  make  me  a  spindle.'  'Ah! 
madam/  said  the  carpenter, '  this  is  the  tree  the  which  our 
first  mother  planted.'  'Do  i\,'  said  she,  'or  else  I  shall 


Of  Sir   Galahad  and  Sir  PercivaL        295 

destroy  thee.'  Anon,  as  the  carpenter  began  to  work, 
there  came  out  drops  of  blood,  and  then  would  he  have 
left,  but  she  would  not  suffer  him.  And  so  he  took  away 
as  much  wood  as  might  well  make  a  spindle ;  and  so  she 
made  him  to  take  as  much  of  the  green  tree  and  of  the 
white  tree.  And  when  these  three  spindles  were  shapen, 
she  made  them  to  be  fastened  on  the  bed.  When  Solo- 
mon saw  this  he  said  to  his  wife,  *  Ye  have  done  marvel- 
lously, for  though  all  the  world  were  here  now,  they  could 
not  tell  wherefore  all  this  was  made,  but  our  Lord  him- 
self, and  thou  that  hast  done  it  wottest  not  what  it  shall 
betoken.'  'Now  let  it  be,'  said  she,  'for  ye  shall  hear 
tidings  sooner  than  ye  ween.' 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

OF  THE  WONDERFUL  TALE  OF  KING  SOLOMON  AND  HIS  WIFE. 

THAT  night  lay  King  Solomon  before  the  ship  with  a 
small  fellowship.  And  when  King  Solomon  was 
on  sleep,  him  thought  there  came  from  heaven  a  great 
company  of  angels,  and  alighted  into  the  ship  and  took 
water  which  was  brought  by  an  angel  in  a  vessel  of  silver, 
and  besprent  [besprinkled]  all  the  ship ;  and  after  he  came 
to  the  sword,  and  drew  letters  on  the  hilt.  And  after 
went  to  the  ship's  board,  and  wrote  there  other  letters, 
which  said :  'Thou  man  that  wilt  enter  within  me,  beware 
that  thou  be  full  within  the  faith,  for  I  ne  \not~\  am  but 
faith  and  belief.'  When  Solomon  espied  these  letters  he 
was  abashed,  so  that  he  durst  not  enter,  and  so  drew  him 
aback,  and  the  ship  was  anon  shoven  in  the  sea,  and  he 


296  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

went  so  fast  that  he  lost  sight  of  him  within  a  little  while. 
And  then  a  little  voice  said,  *  Solomon,  the  last  knight  of 
thy  lineage  shall  rest  in  this  bed.'  Then  went  Solomon 
and  awaked  his  wife  and  told  her  of  the  adventures  of  the 
ship." 

Now  a  great  while  the  three  fellows  [Galahad,  and  his 
two  friends]  beheld  the  bed  and  the  three  spindles.  Then 
they  were  at  certain  that  they  were  of  natural  colors, 
without  painting.  Then  they  lifted  up  a  cloth  which  was 
above  the  ground,  and  there  they  found  a  rich  purse  by 
seeming.  And  Percival  took  it,  and  found  therein  a  writ, 
and  so  he  read  it,  and  devised  the  manner  of  the  spindles, 
and  of  the  ship,  whence  it  came,  and  by  whom  it  was 
made. 

"  Now,"  said  Galahad,  "  where  shall  we  find  the  gentle- 
woman that  shall  make  new  girdles  to  the  sword  ? " 

"Fair  sir,"  said  Percival's  sister,  "dismay  you  not,  for 
by  the  leave  of  God  I  shall  let  make  a  girdle  to  the  sword, 
such  one  as  shall  belong  thereto." 

And  then  she  opened  a  box,  and  took  out  girdles  which 
were  seemly  wrought  with  golden  threads,  and  thereupon 
were  set  full  of  precious  stones,  and  a  rich  buckle  of  gold. 

"Lo,  lords,"  said  the  gentlewoman,  "here  is  a  girdle 
that  ought  to  be  set  about  the  sword;  and  wit  ye  well 
that  the  greatest  part  of  this  girdle  was  made  of  my  hair, 
the  which  I  loved  full  well  while  I  was  a  woman  of  the 
world ;  but  as  soon  as  I  wist  that  this  adventure  was  or- 
dained me,  I  clipped  off  my  hair,  and  made  this  girdle  in 
the  name  of  God." 

"  Ye  are  well  found,"  said  Sir  Bors,  "  for  truly  ye  have 
put  us  out  of  a  great  pain,  wherein  we  should  have  en- 
tered ne  had  your  teaching  been." 

Then  went  the  gentlewoman  and  set  it  upon  the  girdle 
of  the  sword. 


Of  Sir  Galahad  and  Sir  Percival.        297 

"Now,"  said  the  three  fellows,  "what  is  the  right  name 
of  the  sword,  and  what  shall  we  call  it  ? " 

"Truly,"  said  she,  "the  name  of  the  sword  is  the 
Sword  with  the  Strange  Girdles,  and  the  scabbard,  Mover 
of  Blood ;  for  no  man  that  hath  blood  in  him  shall  never 
see  the  one  part  of  the  scabbard  which  was  made  of  the 
tree  of  life." 

Then  they  said  unto  Sir  Galahad,  "In  the  name  of 
Jesu  Christ,  we  pray  you  that  ye  gird  you  with  this 
sword,  which  hath  been  so  much  desired  in  the  realm  of 
Logris." 

"Now  let  me  begin,"  said  Sir  Galahad,  "to  grip  this 
sword  for  to  give  you  courage ;  but  wot  ye  well  that  it 
belongeth  no  more  to  me  than  it  doth  to  you." 

And  then  he  gripped  about  it  with  his  fingers  a  great 
deal,  and  then  she  girded  him  about  the  middle  with  the 
sword. 

"  Now  reck  I  not  though  I  die,  for  now  I  hold  me  one 
of  the  blessed  maidens  of  the  world,  which  hath  made 
thee  the  worthiest  knight  of  the  world." 

"Fair  damsel,"  said  Sir  Galahad,  "ye  have  done  so 
much  that  I  shall  be  your  knight  all  the  days  of  my  life." 

Then  they  went  from  that  ship,  and  went  into  the 
other  ship ;  and  anon  the  wind  drove  them  into  the  sea  a 
great  pace,  but  they  had  no  victual.  But  it  happened 
that  they  came  on  the  morrow  to  a  castle  which  men 
call  Courteloise  that  was  in  the  marches  of  Scotland. 
And  when  they  had  passed  the  port,  the  gentlewoman 
said,  "  Lords,  here  be  men  arriven  that,  and  they  wist 
that  ye  were  of  King  Arthur's  court,  ye  should  be  assailed 
anon." 

"  Damsel,"  said  Galahad,  "  he  that  cast  us  out  of  the 
rock  shall  deliver  us  from  them." 


298  The  Bofs  King  Arthur. 

[And  it  happened  after  that  Sir  Percival's  sister  of  her 
own  wish  died  for  the  healing  of  a  certain  lady,  and  the 
lady  was  healed.  Then,  as  she  had  desired  beforehand, 
Sir  Percival  laid  her  in  a  barge  and]  covered  it  with  silk ; 
and  the  wind  arose  and  drove  the  barge  from  land,  and  all 
knights  beheld  it  till  it  was  out  of  their  sight 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  ENTERED  INTO  THE  SHIP  WHERE  SIR  PERCIVAL'I 
SISTER  LAY  DEAD,  AND  HOW  HE  MET  WITH  SIR  GALAHAD  HIS  SON. 

WHEN  Sir  Launcelot  was  come  to  the  water  of  Mort- 
aise,  he  was  in  great  peril,  and  so  he  laid  him 
down  and  slept,  and  took  his  adventure  that  God  would 
send  him.  So  when  he  was  asleep,  there  came  a  vision 
unto  him,  and  said,  "  Launcelot,  arise  up  and  take  thine 
armor,  and  enter  into  the  first  ship  that  thou  shalt  find." 

And  when  he  fcad  hedtd  these  words,  he  started  up,  and 
saw  a  great  clearness  about  him  ;  and  then  he  lifted  up  his 
hand  and  blessed  him,  and  so  took  his  armor,  and  made 
him  ready.  And  by  adventure  he  came  by  a  strand,  and 
found  a  ship  the  which  was  without  sail  or  oars ;  and  as 
soon  as  he  was  within  the  ship,  there  he  felt  the  most 
sweetest  savor  that  ever  he  felt,  and  he  was  fulfilled  with 
all  things  that  he  thought  on  or  desired.  And  so  in  this 
joy  he  lay  him  down  on  the  ship-board,  and  slept  till  day- 
light. And  when  he  awoke,  he  found  there  a  fair  bed, 
and  therein  lying  a  gentlewoman  dead,  the  which  was 
Sir  Percival's  sister.  And  as  Sir  Launcelot  beheld  her, 
he  espied  in  her  right  hand  a  writing,  the  which  he  read, 
wherein  he  found  all  the  adventures  as  ye  have  heard 


Of  Sir  Galahad  and  Sir  PercivaL        299 

before,  and  of  what  lineage  she  was  come.  So  with  this 
gentlewoman  Sir  Launcelot  was  a  month  and  more. 

So  upon  a  night  he  went  to  play  him  by  the  water's  side, 
for  he  was  somewhat  weary  of  the  ship,  and  then  he  lis- 
tened, and  heard  an  horse  come,  and  one  riding  upon  him. 
And  when  he  came  nigh  he  seemed  a  knight.  And  so  he 
let  him  pass,  and  went  there  as  the  ship  was,  and  there  he 
alighted,  and  took  the  saddle  and  the  bridle  and  put  the 
horse  from  him,  and  went  into  the  ship.  And  then 
Launcelot  dressed  unto  him  and  said,  "Ye  be  welcome." 

And  he  answered  and  saluted  him  again,  and  asked 
him,  "What  is  your  name?  for  much  my  heart  giveth 
unto  you." 

"Truly,"  said  he,  "my  name  is  Launcelot  du  Lake." 

"Sir,"  said  he,  "then  be  ye  welcome,  for  ye  were  the 
beginner  of  me  in  this  world." 

"Ah,"  said  he,  "are  ye  Galahad?" 

"Yea  forsooth,"  said  he. 

And  so  he  kneeled  down  and  asked  him  his  blessing, 
and  after  took  off  his  helm  and  kissed  him.  And  there 
was  great  joy  between  them,  for  there  is  no  tongue  can 
tell  the  joy  that  they  made  either  of  other,  and  many  a 
friendly  word  spoken  between,  as  kind  [nature]  would,  the 
which  is  no  need  here  to  be  rehearsed.  And  there  every 
each  told  other  of  their  adventures  and  marvels  that  were 
befallen  to  them  in  many  journeys,  sith  that  they  departed 
from  the  court.  Anon  as  Galahad  saw  the  gentlewoman 
dead  in  the  bed,  he  knew  her  well  enough,  and  told  great 
worship  of  her,  and  that  she  was  the  best  maid  living, 
and  it  was  great  pity  of  her  death.  But  when  Launcelot 
heard  how  the  marvellous  sword  was  gotten,  and  who 
made  it,  and  all  the  marvels  rehearsed  afore,  then  he 
prayed  Galahad  his  son  that  he  would  show  him  the 


300  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

sword,  and  so  he  did.     And  anon  he  kissed  the  pommel, 
and  the  hilts,  and  the  scabbard. 

"Truly,"  said  Launcelot,  "never  erst  knew  I  of  so  high 
adventures  done,  and  so  marvellous  and  strange."  So 
dwelled  Launcelot  and  Galahad  within  that  ship  half  a 
year,  and  served  God  daily  and  nightly  with  all  their 
power.  And  often  they  arrived  in  isles  far  from  folk, 
where  there  repaired  none  but  wild  beasts ;  and  there 
they  found  many  strange  adventures  and  perilous,  which 
they  brought  to  an  end. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  WAS  NIGH  THE  SANCGREAL,  BUT  WAS  DRIVEN 

FORTH  FROM  IT,  WITH  TERRORS  AND  WONDERS. 


TT^HEN  on  a  certain  day,  a  knight  in  white  called  to 
L  JL  Sir  Galahad  from  the  shore  to  leave  that  ship  and 
fare  on  his  quest,  and  Sir  Galahad  departed  from  his 
father  Sir  Launcelot,  and  rode  off  upon  the  shore.  But 
Sir  Launcelot  drove  a  month  through  the  sea,  ever  pray 
ing  for  news  of  the  Sancgreal.] 

So  it  befell  on  a  night,  at  midnight  he  arrived  afore  a 
castle,  on  the  back  side,  which  was  rich  and  fair.  And 
there  was  a  postern  opened  towards  the  sea,  and  was  open 
without  any  keeping,  save  two  lions  kept  the  entry  ;  and 
the  moon  shone  clear.  Anon  Sir  Launcelot  heard  a  voice 
that  said,  "  Launcelot,  go  out  of  this  ship,  and  enter  into 
the  castle,  where  thou  shalt  see  a  great  part  of  thy  desire." 
Then  he  ran  to  his  arms,  and  so  armed  him,  and  so  he 
went  to  the  gate,  and  saw  the  lions.  Then  set  he  hand  to 
his  sword,  and  drew  it.  Then  there  came  a  dwarf  suddenly, 


Sir  Latincelot  at  the  Castle  of  the  Holy  Grail. 


Of  Sir  Galahad  and  Sir  PercivaL        301 

and  smote  him  on  the  arm  so  sore  that  the  sword  fell  out 
of  his  hand.  Then  took  he  again  his  sword,  and  put  it  up 
in  his  sheath,  and  make  a  cross  in  his  forehead,  and  came 
to  the  lions,  and  they  made  semblant  to  do  him  harm. 
Notwithstanding  he  passed  by  them  without  hurt,  and  en- 
tered into  the  castle  to  the  chief  fortress,  and  there  were 
they  all  at  rest.  Then  Launcelot  entered  in  so  armed, 
for  he  found  no  gate  nor  door  but  it  was  open.  And  at 
the  last  he  found  a  chamber  whereof  the  door  was  shut, 
and  he  set  his  hand  thereto  to  have  opened  it,  but  he 
might  not. 

Then  he  enforced  him  mickle  [much]  to  undo  the  door 
Then  he  listened,  and  heard  a  voice  which  sang  so  sweetly 
that  it  seemed  none  earthly  thing.  Then  Sir  Launcelot 
kneeled  down  before  the  chamber,  for  well  wist  he  that 
there  was  the  Sancgreal  within  that  chamber.  Then 
said  he,  "Fair  sweet  Father  Jesu  Christ,  if  ever  I  did 
thing  that  pleased  the  Lord,  for  thy  pity  have  me  not  in 
despite  for  my  sins  done  aforetime,  and  that  thou  show  me 
something  of  that  I  seek ! " 

And  with  that  he  saw  the  chamber  door  open,  and  there 
came  out  a  great  clearness,  that  the  house  was  as  bright 
as  all  the  torches  of  the  world  had  been  there.  So  came 
he  to  the  chamber  door,  and  would  have  entered.  And 
anon  a  voice  said  to  him,  "  Flee,  Launcelot,  and  enter  not, 
for  thou  oughtest  not  to  do  it :  and  if  thou  enter  thou 
shait  forthink  it."  Then  he  withdrew  him  aback  right 
heavy.  Then  looked  he  up  in  the  midst  of  the  chamber, 
and  saw  a  table  of  silver,  and  the  holy  vessel  covered  with 
red  samite,  and  many  angels  about  it. 

Right  soon  he  entered  into  the  chamber,  and  came 
toward  the  table  of  silver ;  and,  when  he  came  nigh,  he 
felt  a  breath,  that  him  thought  was  entermedled  [mingled] 


302  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

with  fire,  which  smote  him  so  sore  in  the  visage,  that  him 
thought  it  all  to-burnt  his  visage,  and  therewith  he  fell  to 
the  ground,  and  had  no  power  to  arise.  Then  felt  he 
many  hands  about  him,  which  took  him  up,  and  bare  him 
out  of  the  chamber  without  any  amending  of  his  sowne 
[swoon],  and  left  him  there  seeming  dead  to  all  the  people. 
So  on  the  morrow,  when  it  was  fair  daylight,  they  within 
were  arisen,  and  found  Sir  Launcelot  lying  before  the 
chamber  door :  all  they  marvelled  how  he  came  in.  And 
so  they  took  him  by  every  part  of  the  body,  and  bare  him 
into  a  chamber,  and  laid  him  in  a  rich  bed  far  from  all 
folk. 

[Thus  lay  Sir  Launcelot  twenty-four  days  and  nights, 
like  as  it  were  a  punishment  for  the  twenty-four  years 
that  he  had  been  a  sinner.  And  at  the  last  he  recovered 
himself.] 

So  Sir  Launcelot  departed,  and  took  his  armor,  and  said 
that  he  would  go  see  the  realm  of  Logris,  "  which  I  have 
not  seen  in  a  twelvemonth."  And  therewith  he  [took  his 
leave  and]  rode  through  many  realms.  And  he  turned 
unto  Camelot,  where  he  found  King  Arthur  and  the 
queen.  But  many  of  the  knights  of  the  Round  Table 
were  slain  and  destroyed,  more  than  half.  And  so  three 
were  come  home,  Ector,  Gawaine,  and  Lionel,  and  many 
other  that  need  not  to  be  rehearsed.  And  all  the  court 
was  passing  glad  of  Sir  Launcelot ;  and  the  king  asked 
him  many  tidings  of  his  son  Galahad.  And  there  Launce- 
lot told  the  king  of  his  adventures  that  had  befallen  him 
since  he  departed.  And  also  he  told  him  of  the  adven- 
tures of  Galahad,  Percival,  and  Bors,  which  that  he  knew 
by  the  letter  of  the  dead  damsel,  and  as  Galahad  had  told 
him. 

"Now,  God  would,"  said  the  king,  "that  they  were  a! 
three  here," 


Of  Sir  Galahad  and  Sir  Percival.        303 

"That  shall  never  be,"  said  Launcelot,  "for  two  of 
them  shall  ye  never  see,  but  one  of  them  shall  come 
again." 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

How  SIR   GALAHAD  ACHIEVED  THE  SANCGREAL,  AND  WAS  TAKEN    UP 
INTO  HEAVEN. 

F'V  TOW  Sir  Galahad  rode  many  journeys  in  vain,  and 
L  -L  ^1  afterward,  meeting  with  Sir  Bors  and  Sir  Percival, 
they  knew  many  wonders  and  adventures ;  till  on  a  cer- 
tain day  they  came  down  into  a  ship,  and  in  the  midst 
thereof  they  found  a  table  of  silver  and  the  Holy  Grail  all 
covered  with  white  samite.  And  the  Holy  Grail  wrought 
many  miracles,  comforting  them  in  prison,  feeding  them, 
and  healing  the  sick.  And  it  befell  that  the  Paynim  king 
who  had  cast  them  in  prison  died,  and  the  people  by  one 
accord  chose  Sir  Galahad  to  be  king,  and  he  reigned  there 
a  year.  And  on  a  certain  morning  Sir  Galahad,  having 
risen  early,  and  come  unto  the  palace,  saw  before  him  the 
Holy  Grail,  and  a  man  kneeling,  and  about  him  a  great 
fellowship  of  angels.  Then  Sir  Galahad  knew  that  his 
hour  was  come.  And  he]  went  to  Sir  Percival,  and  kissed 
him  and  commended  him  to  God ;  and  he  went  to  Sir 
Bors,  and  kissed  him  and  commended  him  to  God,  and 
said,  "  Fair  lord,  salute  me  to  my  lord  Sir  Launcelot,  my 
father." 

Ana  therewith  he  kneeled  down  before  the  table  and 
made  his  prayers ;  and  then  suddenly  his  soul  departed, 
and  a  great  multitude  of  angels  bare  his  soul  up  to  heaven. 
Also  the  two  fellows  saw  come  from  heaven  an  hand,  but 
they  saw  not  the  body ;  and  then  it  came  to  the  [Holy 
Grail]  and  took  it,  and  the  spear,  and  so  bare  it  to  heaven. 


304  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

Since  was  there  never  man  so  hardy  to  say  that  he  had 
seen  the  Holy  Grail. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

HOW  SIX  PlRCIVAL  DIED,  AND  Si*  BOXS  RETURNED  TO  CAMXLOT. 

F'THHEN  after  a  year  and  two  months,  Sir  Percival,  hav- 
L  -L  ing  lived  a  holy  life  in  a  hermitage,  departed  away 
from  this  world.  And  having  buried  him  by  his  sister 
and  Sir  Galahad,  Sir  Bors  entered  into  a  ship  and  came  at 
last  to  Logris,  and  rode  fast  to  Camelot  where  King 
Arthur  was.  And  there  was  great  joy  made  of  him,  for 
they  weened  he  had  been  dead.] 

And  anon  Sir  Bors  said  to  Sir  Launcelot,  "Galahad, 
your  own  son  saluted  you  by  me,  and  after  you  King 
Arthur,  and  all  the  court,  and  so  did  Sir  Percival :  for  I 
buried  them  with  mine  own  hands  in  the  city  of  Sarras. 
Also,  Sir  Launcelot,  Galahad  prayeth  you  to  remember 
of  this  uncertain  world,  as  ye  behight  him  when  ye  were 
together  more  than  half  a  year." 

"This  is  true,"  said  Launcelot;  "now  I  trust  to  God 
his  prayer  shall  avail  me." 

Then  Launcelot  took  Sir  Bors  in  his  arms,  and  said, 
"  Gentle  cousin,  ye  are  right  welcome  to  me,  and  all  that 
ever  I  may  do  for  you  and  for  yours,  ye  shall  find  my  poor 
body  ready  at  all  times  whiles  the  spirit  is  in  it,  and  that 
I  promise  you  faithfully,  and  never  to  fail.  And  wit  ye 
well,  gentle  cousin  Sir  Bors,  that  ye  and  I  will  nevei 
depart  in  sunder  whilst  our  lives  may  last." 

"  Sir,"  said  he,  "  I  will  as  ye  will." 


BOOK    VI. 
OF  THE  DEATH  OF  ARTHUR- 


CHAPTER  I. 

How  QUEEN  GUENEVER  WAS  APPEALED  OF  MURDERING  A  KNIGHT. 

SO  after  the  quest  of  the  Sane  Greal  was  fulfilled,  and 
all  knights  that  were  left  on  live  were  come  again  to 
the  Table  Round,  then  was  there  great  joy,  and  in  espe- 
cial King  Arthur  and  Queen  Guenever  made  great  joy  of 
the  remnant  that  were  come  home. 

And  then  the  queen  let  make  a  dinner  in  London  unto 
the  knights  of  the  Round  Table.  All  at  that  dinner  she 
had  Sir  Gawaine  and  his  brethren,  that  is  to  say,  Sir 
Agravaine,  Sir  Gaheris,  Sir  Gareth,  and  Sir  Mordred. 
Also  there  was  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis,  Sir  Blamor  de  Ganis, 
Sir  Bleoberis  de  Ganis,  Sir  Galihud,  Sir  Galihodin,  Sir 
Ector  de  Maris,  Sir  Lionel,  Sir  Palamides,  Sir  Safere  his 
brother,  Sir  La  Cote  Mai  Taile,  Sir  Persant,  Sir  Ironside, 
Sir  Brandiles,  Sir  Kay  le  Seneschal,  Sir  Mador  de  la  Porte, 
Sir  Patrice,  a  knight  of  Ireland,  [Sir]  Aliduke,  Sir  Asto- 

1  This  event—  the  death  of  King  Arthur — gave  name  to  the  whole 
series  of  stories  with  some  of  the  older  editors :  Caxton,  for  example,  the 
first  printer  of  Sir  Thomas  Maloiy's  book,  issued  it  under  the  title  "  La.  Mort 
Darthur,"  that  is,  la,  mort  (Frencii,  the  death]  cT Arthur  (of  Arthur}. 

3°S 


$06  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

more,  aad  Sir  Pinel  le  Savage,  the  which  was  cousin  to  Sir 
Lamorak  de  Galis,  the  good  knight  that  Sir  Gawaine  and 
his  brethren  slew  by  treason.  And  so  these  four  and 
twenty  knights  should  dine  with  the  queen,  and  there  was 
made  a  great  feast  of  all  manner  of  dainties.  But  Sir 
Gawaine  had  a  custom  that  he  used  daily  at  dinner  and  at 
supper,  that  he  loved  well  all  manner  of  fruit,  and  in  espe- 
cial apples  and  pears.  And  therefore  whosoever  dined 
or  feasted  Sir  Gawaine  would  commonly  purvey  for  good 
fruit  for  him ;  and  so  did  the  queen  for  to  please  Sir  Ga- 
waine, she  let  purvey  for  him  of  all  manner  of  fruit,  for 
Sir  Gawaine  was  a  passing  hot  knight  of  nature.  And 
this  Pinel  hated  Sir  Gawaine  because  of  his  kinsman  Sir 
Lamorak  de  Galis,  and  therefore  for  pure  envy  and  hate 
Sir  Pinel  enpoisoned  certain  apples,  for  to  enpoison  Sir 
Gawaine.  And  so  this  was  well  unto  the  end  of  the  meat ; 
and  so  it  befell  by  misfortune  a  good  knight  named  Pa- 
trice, cousin  unto  Sir  Mador  de  la  Porte,  to  take  a  poisoned 
apple.  And  when  he  had  eaten  it  he  swelled  so  till  he 
burst,  and  there  Sir  Patrice  fell  down  suddenly  dead 
among  them.  Then  every  knight  leaped  from  the  board 
ashamed  and  enraged  for  wrath,  nigh  out  of  their  wits. 
For  they  wist  not  what  to  say  :  considering  Queen  Guene- 
ver  made  the  feast  and  dinner,  they  all  had  suspicion  unto 
her. 

"  My  lady,  the  queen,"  said  Gawaine,  "  wit  ye  well, 
madam,  that  this  dinner  was  made  for  me :  for  all  folks 
that  know  my  conditions  understand  that  I  love  well  fruit ; 
and  now  I  see  well  I  had  near  been  slain ;  therefore, 
madam,  I  dread  lest  ye  will  be  shamed." 

Then  the  queen  stood  still,  and  was  sore  abashed,  that 
she  wist  not  what  to  say. 

"This  shall   not  so  be  ended,"  said  Sir  Mador  de  la 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  $07 

Porte,  "for  here  have  I  lost  a  full  noble  knight  of  my 
blood,  and  therefore  upon  this  shame  and  despite  I  will  be 
revenged  to  the  uttermost." 

And  thereupon  Sir  Mador  appealed  Queen  Guenever  of 
the  death  of  his  cousin  Sir  Patrice.1  Then  stood  they  all 
still,  that  none  of  them  would  speak  a  word  against  him, 
for  they  had  a  great  suspection  \suspicion\  unto  Queen 
Guenever,  because  she  let  make  the  dinner.  And  the 
queen  was  so  sore  abashed  that  she  could  none  otherwise 
do  but  wept  so  heartily  that  she  fell  in  a  swoon.  With 
this  noise  and  sudden  cry  came  unto  them  King  Arthur, 
and  marvelled  greatly  what  it  might  be ;  and  when  he 
wist  of  their  trouble,  and  the  sudden  death  of  that  good 
knight  Sir  Patrice,  he  was  a  passing  heavy  man. 


CHAPTER   II. 

How  SIR  MADOR  IMPEACHED  THE  QUEEN  OF  TREASON,  AND  THERE  WAI 
NO  KNIGHT  WOULD  FIGHT  FOR  HER  AT  THE  FIRST  TIME. 

AND  ever  Sir  Mador  stood  still  before  King  Artnur, 
and  ever  he  appealed  Queen  Guenever  of  treason ; 
for  the  custom  was  such  at  that  time  that  all  manner  of 
shameful  death  was  called  treason. 

"  Fair  lords,"  said  King  Arthur,  "  me  repenteth  sore  of 
this  trouble,  but  the  cause  is  so  we  may  not  have  to  do  in 
this  matter,  for  I  must  be  a  rightful  judge,  and  that  re- 

1  We  have  here  the  beginning  of  that  series  of  quarrels  which  presently 
arrays  Sir  Gawaine  and  King  Arthur  (who  with  many  protests  allows  hirasel! 
to  be  guided  by  Sir  Gawaine)  on  one  side,  against  Queen  Guenever  and  Sit 
Launcelot  (who  has  taken  the  queen's  part)  on  the  other,  and  which  ends  with 
the  great  battle  in  which  Arthur  is  slain  and  the  Round  Table  broken  up  £01 
rer. 


308  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

penteth  me  that  I  may  not  do  battle  for  my  wife,  for,  as  I 
deem,  this  deed  came  never  of  her ;  and  therefore  I  sup 
pose  we  shall  not  all  be  destitute,  but  that  some  good 
knight  shall  put  his  body  in  jeopardy  for  my  queen  rather 
than  she  should  be  brent  [burnt]  in  a  wrong  quarrel; 
and  therefore,  Sir  Mador,  be  not  so  hasty,  for  it  may 
happen  she  shall  not  be  all  friendless,  and  therefore  desire 
thou  the  day  of  battle,  and  she  shall  purvey  her  of  some 
good  knight  which  shall  answer  you,  or  else  it  were  to  me 
great  shame,  and  unto  all  my  court." 

"My  gracious  lord,"  said  Sir  Mador,  "ye  must  hold  me 
excused,  for  though  ye  be  our  king,  in  that  degree  ye  are 
but  a  knight  as  we  are,  and  ye  are  sworn  unto  knighthood 
as  well  as  we,  and  therefore  I  pray  you  that  ye  will  not  be 
displeased ;  for  there  is  none  of  the  twenty  knights  that 
were  bidden  for  to  come  unto  this  dinner,  but  all  they 
have  great  suspection  unto  the  queen.  What  say  you 
all,  my  lords  ? "  said  Sir  Mador. 

Then  they  answered  by  and  by,  and  said  they  could  not 
excuse  the  queen,  for  why  she  made  the  dinner,  and  either 
it  must  come  by  her  or  by  her  servants. 

"  Alas,"  said  the  queen,  "  I  made  this  dinner  for  a  good 
intent,  and  never  for  none  evil ;  so  Almighty  God  help  me 
in  my  right." 

"  My  lord  the  king,"  said  Sir  Mador,  "  I  require  you,  as 
ye  be  a  righteous  king,  give  me  a  day  that  I  may  have 
justice." 

"Well,"  said  the  king,  "I  give  the  day  this  day  fifteen 
days,  that  thou  be  ready  armed  on  horseback  in  the 
meadow  beside  Westminster.  And  if  it  so  fall  that  there 
be  any  knight  to  encounter  with  you,  there  mayest  thou 
do  the  best,  and  God  speed  the  right.  And  if  it  so  fall 
that  there  be  no  knight  at  that  day,  then  must  my  queen 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  309 

be  burnt,  and  there  shall  she  be  ready  to  have  her  judg- 
ment." 

"I  am  answered,"  said  Sir  Mador;  and  every  knight 
went  where  it  liked  him. 

So  when  the  king  and  queen  were  together,  the  king 
asked  the  queen  how  this  case  befell  ? 

The  queen  answered,  "  So  God  me  help,  I  wot  not  how, 
nor  in  what  manner." 

"Where  is  Sir  Launcelot?"  said  King  Arthur,  "and 
he  were  here,  he  would  not  grudge  to  do  battle  for  you." 

"  Sir,"  said  the  queen,  "  I  wot  not  where  he  is,  but  his 
brother  and  his  kinsmen  deem  that  he  is  not  within  this 
realm." 

[For,  within  a  little  while  before,  it  happened  on  a  day 
that  Queen  Guenever  was  displeased  with  Sir  Launcelot 
and  forbade  him  the  court,  and  that  Sir  Launcelot  full 
sadly  left  the  court  and  departed  into  his  country  and 
dwelt  with  the  hermit  Sir  Brasias.] 

"  That  me  repenteth,"  said  King  Arthur,  "  for  and  he 
were  here  he  would  soon  stint  this  strife.  Then  I  will 
counsel  you,"  said  the  king,  "  that  ye  go  unto  Sir  Bors, 
and  pray  him  to  do  that  battle  for  you  for  Sir  Launcelot's 
sake,  and  upon  my  life  he  will  not  refuse  you ;  for  right 
well  I  perceive  that  none  of  all  these  twenty  knights  that 
were  with  you  in  fellowship  at  your  dinner  will  do  battle 
for  you :  [which  would  be]  great  slander  for  you  in  this 
court." 

"  Alas ! "  said  the  queen,  "  I  cannot  do  withal ;  but 
now  I  miss  Sir  Launcelot,  for,  and  he  were  here,  he  would 
put  me  full  soon  unto  my  heart's  ease." 

"Now  go  your  way,"  said  the  king  unto  the  queen, 
"and  require  Sir  Bors  to  do  battle  for  you  for  Sir  Launce- 
lot's  sake." 


310  The  Boy's  King  Arthur 


CHAPTER  III. 


How  THE  QUEEN  REQUIRED  SIR  BORS  TO  FIGHT  FOR  HER,  AND 
HE  GRANTED  HER  UPON  A  CONDITION,  AND  HOW  HE  WARNED  SlR 
LAUNCELOT  THEREOF. 

SO  the  queen  departed  from  the  king,  and  sent  for  Sir 
Bors  into  her  chamber  ;  and  when  he  was  come,  she 
besought  him  of  succor. 

"  Madam,"  said  he,  "what  would  ye  that  I  do?  for  I 
may  not  with  my  worship  have  to  do  in  this  matter,  be- 
cause I  was  at  that  same  dinner,  for  dread  that  any  of 
those  knights  would  have  me  in  suspection  ;  also,  madam," 
said  Sir  Bors,  "  now  miss  ye  Sir  Launcelot,  for  he  would 
not  have  failed  you,  neither  in  right  nor  yet  in  wrong,  as 
ye  have  well  proved  when  ye  have  been  in  danger,  and 
now  have  ye  driven  him  out  of  this  country,  by  whom  ye 
and  we  all  were  daily  worshipped.1  Therefore,  madam,  I 
greatly  marvel  me  how  ye  dare  for  shame  require  me  to 
do  any  thing  for  you,  in  so  much  as  ye  have  chased  him 
j>ut  of  your  country  by  whom  we  were  borne  up  and 
honored." 

"  Alas  !  fair  knight,"  said  the  queen,  "  I  put  me  wholly 
in  your  grace,  and  all  that  is  done  amiss  I  will  amend  as 
ye  will  counsel  me." 

And  therewith  she  kneeled  down  upon  both  her  knees, 
and  besought  Sir  Bors  to  have  mercy  upon  her,  "  or  I  shall 
have  a  shameful  death,  and  thereto  I  never  offended." 

Right  so  came  King  Arthur,  and  found  the  queen 
kneeling  afore  Sir  Bors.  Then  Sir  Bors  pulled  her  up 
and  said,  "  Madam,  ye  do  to  me  great  dishonor." 

1  "  Worshipped,"  made  of  worthy  honored. 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur  311 

"Ah,  gentle  knight,"  said  the  king,  "have  mercy  upon 
my  queen,  courteous  knight,  for  I  am  now  in  certain  she 
is  untruly  defamed.  And  therefore,  courteous  knight," 
said  the  king,  "  promise  her  to  do  battle  for  her  :  I  require 
you,  for  the  love  of  Sir  Launcelot." 

"  My  lord,"  said  Sir  Bors,  "  ye  require  me  the  greatest 
thing  that  any  man  may  require  me ;  and  wit  ye  well,  if  I 
grant  to  do  battle  for  the  queen  I  shall  wrath  many  of  my 
fellowship  of  the  Table  Round ;  but  as  for  that,"  said 
Bors,  "  I  will  grant  my  lord,  for  my  lord  Sir  Launcelot's 
sake,  and  for  your  sake,  I  will  at  that  day  be  the  queen's 
champion,  unless  that  there  come  by  adventure  a  better 
knight  than  I  am  to  do  battle  for  her." 

"Will  ye  promise  me  this,"  said  the  king,  "by  your 
faith?" 

"Yea  sir,"  said  Sir  Bors,  "of  that  will  I  not  fail  you, 
nor  her  both,  but  if  that  there  come  a  better  knight  than 
I  am,  and  then  shall  he  have  the  battle." 

Then  was  the  king  and  the  queen  passing  glad,  and  so 
departed,  and  thanked  him  heartily.  So  then  Sir  Bors 
departed  secretly  upon  a  day,  and  rode  unto  Sir  Launce- 
lot, there  as  he  was  with  the  hermit  Sir  Brasias,  and  told 
him  of  all  their  adventure. 

"Ah,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "this  is  come  happily  as  I 
would  have  it,  and  therefore  I  pray  you  make  you  ready 
to  do  battle,  but  look  that  ye  tarry  till  ye  see  me  come,  as 
long  as  ye  may.  For  I  am  sure  Mador  is  an  hot  knight, 
when  he  is  enchafed,  for  the  more  ye  surfer  him,  the  has- 
tier will  he  be  to  battle." 

"Sir,"  said  Sir  Bors,  "let  me  deal  with  him;  doubt  ye 
not  ye  shall  have  all  your  will." 

Then  departed  Sir  Bors  from  him,  and  came  to  the 
court  again.  Then  was  it  noised  in  all  the  court  that  Sir 


312  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

Bors  should  do  battle  for  the  queen :  wherefore  many 
knights  were  displeased  with  him,  that  he  would  take 
upon  him  to  do  battle  in  the  queen's  quarrel,  for  there 
were  but  few  knights  in  the  court  but  they  deemed  the 
queen  was  in  the  wrong,  and  that  she  had  done  that 
treason.  So  Sir  Bors  answered  thus  unto  his  fellows  of 
the  Table  Round :  "  Wit  ye  well,  my  fair  lords,  it  were 
shame  to  us  all,  and  we  suffered  to  see  the  most  noble 
queen  of  the  world  to  be  shamed  openly,  considering  her 
lord  and  our  lord  is  the  man  of  most  worship  in  the  world, 
and  most  christened,  and  he  hath  ever  worshipped  us  a!l, 
in  all  places." 

Many  answered  him  again :  "  As  for  our  most  noble 
King  Arthur,  we  love  him  and  honor  him  as  well  as  ye  do ; 
but  as  for  Queen  Guenever,  we  love  her  not,  for  because 
she  is  a  destroyer  of  good  knights." 

"Fair  lords,"  said  Sir  Bors,  "me  seemeth  ye  say  not  as 
ye  should  say,  for  never  yet  in  all  my  days  knew  I  nor 
heard  say  that  ever  she  was  a  destroyer  of  any  good 
knight ;  but  at  all  times,  as  far  as  I  ever  could  know,  she 
was  always  a  maintainer  of  good  knights,  and  alway  she 
hath  been  large  and  free  of  her  goods  to  all  good  knights, 
and  the  most  bounteous  lady  of  her  gifts  and  her  good 
grace  that  ever  I  saw  or  heard  speak  of ;  and  therefore  it 
were  great  shame,"  said  Sir  Bors,  "  unto  us  all  to  our  most 
noble  king's  wife,  if  we  suffer  her  to  be  shamefully  slain. 
And  wit  ye  well,"  said  Sir  Bors,  "  I  will  not  suffer  it,  for 
I  dare  say  so  much,  the  queen  is  not  guilty  of  Sir  Patrice' 
death,  for  she  ought  [owed]  him  never  none  evil  will,  nor 
none  of  the  twenty-four  knights  that  were  at  that  dinner ; 
for  I  dare  well  say  that  it  was  for  good  love  she  had  us  to 
dinner,  and  not  for  no  mal  engine  [bad  desigri\,  and  that  I 
douw»t  not  shall  be  proved  hereafter,  for,  howsoever  the 
game  goeth,  there  was  treason  among  some  of  us." 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  313 

Then  some  said  to  Sir  Bors,  "  We  may  well  believe  your 
words." 

And  so  some  of  them  were  well  pleased,  and  some  were 
aot  pleased. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

How  AT  THE  DAY  SIR  BORS  MADE  HIM  READY  FOR  TO  FIGHT  FOI 
QUEEN  GUENEVER,  AND  HOW  ANOTHER  DISCHARGED  HIM  WHEN  HI 
SHOULD  FIGHT. 

THE  day  came  on  fast  until  the  even  that  the  battle 
should  be.  Then  the  queen  sent  for  Sir  Bors,  and 
asked  him  how  he  was  disposed. 

"  Truly,  madam/'  said  he,  "  I  am  disposed  in  likewise  as 
I  promised  you,  [and  I  will  not]  fail  you,  unless  by  adven- 
ture there  come  a  better  knight  than  I  to  do  battle  for 
you  ;  then,  madam,  I  am  discharged  of  my  promise." 

Then  the  queen  went  unto  the  king,  and  told  him  the 
answer  of  Sir  Bors. 

"  Have  ye  no  doubt,"  said  the  king,  "  of  Sir  Bors,  for  I 
call  him  now  one  of  the  best  knights  of  the  world,  and 
the  most  profitable  man." 

And  thus  it  passed  on  until  the  morn.  And  the  king 
and  the  queen,  and  all  manner  of  knights  that  were  there 
at  that  time,  drew  them  unto  the  meadow  beside  West- 
minster, where  the  battle  should  be.  And  so  when  the 
king  was  come  with  the  queen,  and  many  knights  of  the 
Round  Table,  then  the  queen  was  put  there  in  the  con- 
stable's ward,  and  a  great  fire  made  about  an  iron  stake, 
that,  and  Sir  Mador  de  la  Porte  had  the  better,  she  should 
be  burnt.  Such  custom  was  used  in  those  days,  that 
neither  for  favor,  neither  for  love,  nor  affinity,  there 


314  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

should  be  none  other  but  righteous  judgment,  as  well 
upon  a  king  as  upon  a  knight,  and  as  well  upon  a  queen 
as  upon  another  poor  lady.  So  in  this  meanwhile  came 
in  Sir  Mador  de  la  Porte,  and  took  his  oath  before  the 
king,  That  the  queen  did  this  treason  unto  his  cousin.  Sir 
Patrice,  and  unto  his  oath  he  would  prove  it  with  his 
body,  hand  for  hand,  who  that  would  say  the  contrary. 
Right  so  came  in  Sir  Bors,  and  said,  that  as  for  Queen 
Guenever,  she  is  in  the  right,  "  and  that  will  I  make  good 
with  my  hands,  that  she  is  not  culpable  of  this  treason 
that  is  put  upon  her." 

"Then  make  thee  ready,"  said  Sir  Mador,  "and  we  shall 
prove  whether  thou  be  in  the  right  or  I." 

"Sir  Mador,"  said  Sir  Bors,  "wit  thou  well  I  know  you 
for  a  good  knight :  but  I  trust  unto  almighty  God  I  shall 
be  able  to  withstand  your  malice :  but  thus  much  have  I 
promised  my  lord  King  Arthur,  and  my  lady  the  queen, 
that  I  shall  do  battle  for  her  in  this  case  to  the  uttermost, 
unless  that  there  come  a  better  knight  then  I  am,  and  dis- 
charge me." 

"Is  that  all?"  said  Sir  Mador;  "either  come  thou  off, 
and  do  battle  with  me,  or  else  say  nay." 

"  Take  your  horse,"  said  Sir  Bors,  "  and,  as  I  suppose, 
ye  shall  not  tarry  long  but  that  ye  shall  be  answered." 

Then  either  departed  to  their  tents,  and  made  them 
ready  to  mount  upon  horseback  as  they  thought  best. 
And  anon  Sir  Mador  de  la  Porte  came  into  the  field  with 
his  shield  on  his  shoulder,  and  a  spear  in  his  hand ;  and 
so  rode  about  the  place,  crying  unto  King  Arthur,  "  Bid 
your  champion  come  forth,  and  he  dare." 

Then  was  Sir  Bors  ashamed,  and  took  his  horse,  and 
came  to  the  list's  end.  And  then  was  he  ware  where  as 
came  out  of  a  wood,  there  fast  by,  a  knight  all  armed  at 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  315 

all  points  upon  a  white  horse,  with  a  strange  shield,  and 
of  strange  arms ;  aiid  he  came  riding  all  that  he  might 
run ;  and  so  he  came  to  Sir  Bors,  and  said,  "  Fair  knight, 
I  pray  you  be  not  displeased,  for  here  must  a  better  knight 
than  ye  are  have  this  battle ;  therefore  I  pray  you  to  with- 
draw you,  for  I  would  ye  knew  I  have  had  this  day  a  right 
great  journey,  and  this  battle  ought  to  be  mine,  and  so  I 
promised  you  when  I  spake  with  you  last,  and  with  all  my 
heart  I  thank  you  of  your  good  will." 

Then  Sir  Bors  rode  unto  King  Arthur,  and  told  him 
how  there  was  a  knight  come  that  would  have  the  battle 
for  to  fight  for  the  queen. 

"  What  knight  is  he  ? "  said  the  king. 

"  I  wot  not,"  said  Sir  Bors,  "  but  such  covenant  he  ma,!e 
with  me  to  be  here  this  day.  Now  my  lord,"  said  Sir  Bo/* , 
"  here  am  I  discharged." 


CHAPTER  V. 

How  Sii.  LAUNCELOT  FOUGHT  AGAINST  SIR  MADOR  FOR  TH«  QTTXK*. 

AND   HOW  HE  OVERCAME   SlR  MADOR  AND   DISCHARGED  THE   QUEEN. 

THEN  the  king  called  to  that  knight,  and  asked  him 
if  he  would  fight  for  the  queen.  Then  he  answered 
to  the  king,  "Therefore  came  I  hither,  and  therefore,  Sir 
king,"  he  said,  "tarry  me  no  longer,  for  I  may  not  tarry. 
For  anon  as  I  have  finished  this  battle  I  must  depart 
hence,  for  I  have  ado  many  matters  elsewhere.  For  wit 
you  well,"  said  that  knight,  "this  is  dishonor  to  you  «il 
knights  of  the  Round  Table,  to  see  and  know  so  noble  a 
lady  and  so  courteous  a  queen  as  Queen  Guenevcr  is 
thus  to  be  rebuked  and  shamed  amongst  you." 


316  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

Then  they  all  marvelled  what  knight  that  might  be  that 
so  took  the  battle  upon  him,  for  there  was  not  one  that 
knew  him,  but  if  it  were  Sir  Bors.  Then  said  Sir  Mador 
de  la  Porte  unto  the  king,  "  Now  let  me  wit  with  whom  I 
shall  have  ado  withal." 

And  then  they  rode  to  the  lists'  end,  and  there  they 
couched  their  spears,  and  ran  together  with  all  their 
mights.  And  Sir  Mador's  spear  brake  all  to  pieces,  but 
the  other's  spear  held,  and  bare  Sir  Mador's  horse  and  all 
backward  to  the  earth  a  great  fall.  But  mightily  and  sud- 
denly he  avoided  his  horse,  and  put  his  shield  afore  him, 
and  then  drew  his  sword,  and  bade  the  other  knight  alight 
and  do  battle  with  him  on  foot.  Then  that  knight  de- 
scended from  his  horse  lightly  like  a  valiant  man,  and  put 
his  shield  afore  him,  and  drew  his  sword,  and  so  they  came 
eagerly  unto  battle,  and  either  gave  other  many  great 
strokes,  tracing  and  traversing,  rasing  and  foining,  and 
hurtling  together  with  their  swords,  as  it  were  wild  boars. 
Thus  were  they  fighting  nigh  an  hour,  for  this  Sir  Mador 
was  a  strong  knight,  and  mightily  proved  in  many  strong 
battles.  But  at  last  this  knight  smote  Sir  Mador  grovel- 
ling upon  the  earth,  and  the  knight  stepped  near  him  to 
have  pulled  Sir  Mador  flatling  upon  the  ground ;  and  there- 
with suddenly  Sir  Mador  arose,  and  in  his  rising  he  smote 
that  knight  through  the  thick  of  the  thighs,  that  the  blood 
ran  out  fiercely.  And  when  he  felt  himself  so  wounded,  and 
saw  his  blood,  he  let  him  arise  upon  his  feet ;  and  then  he 
gave  him  such  a  buffet  upon  the  helm  that  he  fell  to  the 
earth  flatling,  and  therewith  he  strode  to  him  for  to  have 
pulled  off  his  helm  off  his  head.  And  then  Sir  Mador 
prayed  that  knight  to  save  his  life,  and  so  he  yielded  him 
as  overcome,  and  released  the  queen  of  his  quarrel 

'*  I  will  not  grant  thee  thy  life,"  said  that  knight,  "  only 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  317 

that  thou  freely  release  the  queen  forever,  and  that  no 
mention  be  made  upon  Sir  Patrice*  tomb  that  ever  Queen 
Guenever  consented  to  that  treason." 

"  All  this  shall  be  done,"  said  Sir  Mador,  "  I  clearly 
discharge  my  quarrel  forever." 

Then  the  knights  parters  of  the  lists  [knights  wto 
parted  the  ccmbatants]  took  up  Sir  Mador,  and  led  him  to 
his  tent,  and  the  other  knight  went  straight  to  the  stair  foot 
whereas  King  Arthur  sat,  and  by  that  time  was  the  queen 
come  unto  the  king,  and  either  kissed  other  lovingly. 
And  when  the  king  saw  that  knight,  he  stooped  down 
unto  him  and  thanked  him,  and  in  likewise  did  the  queen. 
And  then  the  king  prayed  him  to  put  off  his  helm  and  to 
rest  him,  and  to  take  a  sop  of  wine  ;  and  then  he  put  off 
his  helm  to  drink,  and  then  every  knight  knew  that  he 
was  the  noble  knight  Sir  Launcelot.  As  soon  as  the 
king  wist  that,  he  took  the  queen  by  the  hand,  and  went 
unto  Sir  Launcelot,  and  said,  "  Gramercy  of  your  great 
travel  that  ye  have  had  this  day  for  me  and  for  my 
queen." 

"My  lord,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "wit  ye  well  that  I 
ought  of  right  ever  to  be  in  your  quarrel,  and  in  my  lady 
the  queen's  quarrel,  to  do  battle,  for  ye  are  the  man  that 
gave  me  the  high  order  of  knighthood,  and  that  day  my 
lady  your  queen  did  me  great  worship,  or  else  I  had  been 
shamed.  For  that  same  day  ye  made  me  knight,  through 
my  hastiness  I  lost  my  sword,  and  my  lady  your  queen 
found  it,  and  lapped  it  in  her  train,  and  gave  me  my 
sword  when  I  had  need  thereof,  or  else  had  I  been  shamed 
among  all  knights.  And  therefore,  my  lord  King  Arthur, 
I  promised  her  at  that  day  ever  to  be  her  knight  in  right 
or  in  wrong." 

"Gramercy,"  said  King  Arthur,  "for  this  journey;  and 


3i8  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

wit  you  well,"  said  King  Arthur,  "I  shall  acquit  you  ci 
\repay  you  for]  your  goodness." 

And  ever  the  queen  beheld  Sir  Launcelot,  and  wept  so 
tenderly  that  she  sank  almost  down  upon  the  ground  for 
sorrow,  that  he  had  done  to  her  so  great  goodness,  whereas 
she  had  showed  him  great  unkindness.  Then  the  knights 
of  his  blood  drew  unto  him,  and  there  either  of  them 
made  great  joy  of  other;  and  so  came  all  the  knights  of 
the  Round  Table  that  were  there  at  that  time,  and  he 
welcomed  them.  And  then  Sir  Mador  was  had  to  leech- 
craft  [surgery] ;  and  Sir  Launcelot  was  healed  of  his 
wound.  And  then  was  there  made  great  joy  and  mirth 
in  the  court. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

HOW  THE  T*UTH  WAS  KNOWN   BY  THE  DAMSKL  O*  THE  LAKE,  AND   Of 
DIVERS  OTHER  MATTERS. 

AND  so  it  befell  that  the  damsel  of  the  lake,  which 
was  called  Nimue,  the  which  wedded  the  good 
knight  Sir  Pelleas,  and  so  she  came  to  the  court,  for 
ever  she  did  great  goodness  unto  King  Arthur  and  to 
all  his  knights,  through  her  sorcery  and  enchantments. 
And  so  when  she  heard  how  the  queen  was  [endangered] 
for  the  death  of  Sir  Patrice,  then  she  told  it  openly  that 
sne  was  never  guilty ;  and  there  she  disclosed  by  whom  it 
was  done,  and  named  him  Sir  Pinel,  and  for  what  cause  he 
did  it ;  there  it  was  openly  disclosed,  and  so  the  queen 
was  excused,  and  the  knight  Sir  Pinel  fled  into  his  country 
Then  was  it  openly  known  that  Sir  Pinel  empoisoned  the 
apples  of  the  feast,  to  the  intent  to  have  destroyed  Sir 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  319 

Gawaine,  because  Sir  Gawaine  and  his  brethren  destroyed 
Sir  Lamorak  de  Galis,  whom  Sir  Pinel  was  cousin  unto. 

And  then  Sir  Mador  sued  daily  and  long  to  have  the 
queen's  good  grace ;  and  so,  by  the  means  of  Sir 
Launcelot,  he  caused  him  to  stand  in  the  queen's  grace, 
and  all  was  forgiven.  Thus  it  passed  forth  until  our 
Lady  Day  the  Assumption ;  within  fifteen  days  of  that 
feast  King  [Arthur  let  cry  a  great  tournament]  at  Game- 
lot,  that  is,  Winchester,  [where]  he  and  the  King  of  Scot 
land  would  joust  against  all  that  would  come  against  them. 
And  when  this  cry  was  made,  thither  came  many  knights. 
So  there  came  thither  the  King  of  Northgalis,  and  King 
Anguish  of  Ireland,  and  the  king  with  the  hundred 
knights,  and  Sir  Galahalt  the  haut  prince,  and  the  King 
of  Northumberland,  and  many  other  noble  dukes  and 
earls  of  divers  countries.  So  King  Arthur  made  him 
ready  to  depart  to  these  jousts,  and  would  have  had  the 
queen  with  him ;  but  at  that  time  she  would  not,  she  said, 
for  she  was  sick  and  might  not  ride  at  that  time. 

"That  me  repenteth,"  said  the  king,  "for  this  seven 
year  ye  saw  not  such  a  fellowship  together,  except  at 
Whitsuntide  when  Galahad  departed  from  the  court." 

"  Truly,"  said  the  queen  to  the  king,  "  ye  must  hold  me 
excused  :  I  may  not  be  there,  and  that  me  repenteth." 


320  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  RODE  TO  ASTOLAT,  AND  RECEIVED  A  SLKKVE  10 

BEAR  UPON  HIS  HELM  AT  THE  REQUEST  OF  A  MAID. 

AND  so  upon  the  morn  early  Sir  Launcelot  heard 
mass,  and  brake  his  fast,  and  so  took  his  leave  of 
the  queen,  and  departed.  And  then  he  rode  so  much 
until  he  came  to  Astolat,  that  is  Gilford ;  and  there  it 
happed  him  in  the  eventide  he  came  to  an  old  baron's 
place,  that  hight  Sir  Bernard  of  Astolat.  And  as  Sir 
Launcelot  entered  into  his  lodging,  King  Arthur  espied 
him  as  he  did  walk  in  a  garden  beside  the  castle,  how  he 
took  his  lodging,  and  knew  him  full  well. 

"  It  is  well,"  said  King  Arthur  unto  the  knights  that 
were  with  him  in  that  garden  beside  the  castle,  "  I  have 
now  espied  one  knight  that  will  play  his  play  at  the  jousts 
to  the  which  we  be  gone  toward,  I  undertake  he  will  do 
marvels." 

"  Who  is  that,  we  pray  you  tell  us,"  said  many  knights 
that  were  there  at  that  time. 

"Ye  shall  not  wit  for  me,"  said  the  king,  "at  this 
time." 

And  so  the  king  smiled,  and  went  to  his  lodging.  So 
when  Sir  Launcelot  was  in  his  lodging,  and  unarmed  him 
in  his  chamber,  the  old  baron  came  unto  him,  making  his 
reverence,  and  welcomed  him  in  the  best  manner;  but 
the  old  knight  knew  not  Sir  Launcelot. 

"Fair  sir,"  said  Sir  Launcelot  to  his  host,  "I  would 
pray  you  to  lend  me  a  shield  that  were  not  openly  known, 
for  mine  is  well  known." 

"  Sir,"  said  his  host,  "ye  shall  have  your  desire,  for  me 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  321 

scemeth  ye  be  one  of  the  likeliest  knights  of  the  world, 
and  therefore  I  shall  show  you  friendship.  Sir,  wit  ye 
well  I  have  two  sons  which  were  but  late  made  knights, 
and  the  eldest  hight  Sir  Tirre,  and  he  was  hurt  the  same 
day  that  he  was  made  knight,  that  he  may  not  ride, 
and  his  shield  ye  shall  have,  for  that  is  not  known,  I  dare 
say,  but  here,  and  in  no  place  else.  And  my  youngest  son 
hight  Sir  Lavaine,  and  if  it  please  you  he  shall  ride 
with  you  unto  those  jousts ;  and  he  is  of  his  age  strong 
and  mighty,  for  much  my  heart  giveth  unto  you  that  ye 
should  be  a  noble  knight,  therefore  I  beseech  you  tell  me 
your  name,"  said  Sir  Bernard. 

"As  for  that,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "ye  must  hold  me 
excused  as  at  this  time,  and  if  God  give  me  grace  to 
speed  well  at  the  jousts,  I  shall  come  again  and  tell  you ; 
but  I  pray  you  heartily,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  in  any  wise 
let  me  have  your  son  Sir  Lavaine  with  me,  and  that  I  may 
have  his  brother's  shield." 

"  Also  this  shall  be  done,"  said  Sir  Bernard. 

This  old  baron  had  a  daughter  that  time  that  was  called 
Vhe  fair  maid  of  Astolat,  and  ever  she  beheld  Sir  Launcelot 
wonderfully ;  and  she  cast  such  a  love  unto  Sir  Launcelot 
that  she  could  not  withdraw  her  love,  wherefore  she  died ; 
and  her  name  was  Elaine  la  Blanche.  So  thus  as  she 
came  to  and  fro,  she  besought  Sir  Launcelot  to  wear  upon 
him  at  the  jousts  a  token  of  hers. 

"  Fair  damsel,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  and  if  I  grant  you 
that,  ye  may  say  I  do  more  for  your  love  than  ever  I  did 
for  lady  or  damsel." 

Then  he  remembered  him  that  he  would  ride  unto  the 
jousts  disguised,  and  for  because  he  had  never  before  that 
time  borne  no  manner  of  token  of  no  damsel,  then  he 
bethought  him  that  he  would  bear  one  of  hers,  that  none 


322  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

of  his  blood  thereby  might  know  him.  And  then  he  said, 
"  Fair  damsel,  I  will  grant  you  to  wear  a  token  of  yours 
upon  my  helmet,  and  therefore  what  it  is  show  me." 

"  Sir,"  said  she,  "  it  is  a  red  sleeve  of  mine,  of  scarlet 
well  embroidered  with  great  pearls.-" 

And  so  she  brought  it  him.  So  Sir  Launcelot  received 
it,  and  said,  "  Never  or  this  time  did  I  so  much  for  no 
damsel." 

And  then  Sir  Launcelot  betook  \gave\  the  fair  damsel 
his  shield  in  keeping,  and  prayed  her  to  keep  it  until  he 
came  again.  And  so  that  night  he  had  merry  rest  and 
great  cheer ;  for  ever  the  fair  damsel  Elaine  was  about  Sir 
Launcelot  all  the  while  that  she  might  be  suffered. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

HQW  THI  TOURNAMENT  BEGAN  AT  WINCHESTER,  AND  WHAT  KNIGHTS 
WERE  AT  THE  JOUSTS,  AND  OF  OTHER  MATTERS. 

SO  upon  a  day  in  the  morning,  King  Arthur  and  all 
his  knights  departed,  for  the  king  had  tarried  there 
three  days  to  abide  his  knights.  And  so  when  the  king 
was  ridden,  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Lavaine  made  them 
ready  for  to  ride,  and  either  of  them  had  white  shields, 
and  the  red  sleeve  Sir  Launcelot  let  carry  with  him. 
And  so  they  took  their  leave  of  Sir  Bernard  the  old 
baron,  and  of  his  daughter  the  fair  maid  of  Astolat 
And  then  they  rode  so  long  till  that  they  came  to 
Camelot,  which  now  is  called  Winchester.  And  there 
was  great  press  of  knights,  dukes,  earls,  and  barons,  and 
many  noble  knights ;  but  there  was  Sir  Launcelot  privily 
lodged  bv  th«  means  of  Sir  Lavaine  with  a  rich  burgess, 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  323 

that  no  man  in  that  town  was  ware  what  they  were.  And 
so  they  sojourned  there  till  our  Lady  Day  the  Assumption, 
as  the  great  feast  should  be.  So  then  trumpets  began  to 
blow  unto  the  field,  and  King  Arthur  was  set  on  high 
upon  a  scaffold  to  behold  who  did  best.  But  King 
Arthur  would  not  suffer  Sir  Gawaine  to  go  from  him, 
for  never  had  Sir  Gawaine  the  better  if  Sir  Launcelot 
were  in  the  field.  And  many  times  was  Sir  Gawaine  re- 
buked when  Sir  Launcelot  came  to  any  jousts  disguised. 
Then  some  of  the  kings,  as  King  Anguish  of  Ireland 
and  the  King  of  Scotland,  were  at  that  time  turned  upon 
King  Arthur's  side.  And  then  upon  the  other  side  was 
the  King  of  Northgalis,  and  the  king  with  the  hundred 
knights,  and  the  King  of  Northumberland,  and  Sir  Gala- 
halt  the  haut  prince.  But  these  three  kings  and  this 
one  duke  were  passing  weak  to  hold  against  King  Ar- 
thur's party ;  for  with  him  were  the  noblest  knights  of 
the  world.  So  then  they  withdrew  them  either  party  from 
other,  and  every  man  made  him  ready  in  his  best  manner 
to  do  what  he  might.  Then  Sir  Launcelot  made  him 
ready,  and  put  the  red  sleeve  upon  his  head,  and  fastened 
it  fast ;  and  so  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Lavaine  departed  out 
of  Winchester  privily,  and  rode  until  [unto]  a  little  leaved 
wood,  behind  the  party  that  held  against  King  Arthur's 
party,  and  there  they  held  them  still  till  the  parties  smote 
together.  And  then  came  in  the  King  of  Scots  and  the 
King  of  Ireland  on  Arthur's  party ;  and  against  them 
came  the  King  of  Northumberland ;  and  the  king  with 
the  hundred  knights  smote  down  the  King  of  North- 
umberland, and  also  the  king  with  the  hundred  knights 
smote  down  King  Anguish  of  Ireland.  Then  Sir  Pala- 
mides,  that  was  on  Arthur's  party,  encountered  with  Sir 
Galahalt,  and  either  of  them  smote  down  other,  and  either 


324  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

party  holp  their  lords  on  horseback  again.  So  there  began 
a  strong  assail  upon  both  parties.  And  then  there  came 
in  Sir  Brandiles,  Sir  Sagramor  le  Desirous,  Sir  Dodinas  le 
Savage,  Sir  Kay  le  Seneschal,  Sir  Griflet  le  Fise  de  Dieu, 
Sir  Mordred,  Sir  Meliot  de  Logris,  Sir  Ozanna  le  Cure 
Hardy,  Sir  Safere,  Sir  Epinogris,  and  Sir  Galleron  oi 
Galway.  All  these  fifteen  knights  were  knights  of  the 
Table  Round.  So  these  with  more  others  came  in  to- 
gether, and  beat  back  the  King  of  Northumberland,  and 
the  King  of  North  Wales.  When  Sir  Launcelot  saw  this, 
as  he  hoved  in  a  little  leaved  wood,  then  he  said  unto  Sir 
Lavaine,  "  See  yonder  is  a  company  of  good  knights,  and 
they  hold  them  together  as  boars  that  were  chafed  with 
dogs." 

"  That  is  truth,"  said  Sir  Lavaine. 


CHAPTER  IX 

How   SIR   LAUNCELOT  AND   SIR    LAVAINE  ENTERED  IN  THE   FIELD 

AGAINST    THEM    OP    KlNG    ARTHUR'S    COURT,   AND    HOW    LAUNCKLOT 
WAS  HURT. 

NOW,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "and  ye  will  help  me  a 
little,  ye  shall  see  yonder  fellowship  which  chaseth 
now  these  men  in  our  side,  that  they  shall  go  as  fast  back- 
ward as  they  went  forward." 

"  Sir,  spare  not,"  said  Sir  Lavaine,  "  for  I  shall  do  what 
I  may." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Lavaine  came  in  at  the 
thickest  of  the  press,  and  there  Sir  Launcelot  smote  down 
Sir  Brandiles,  Sir  Sagramor,  Sir  Dodinas,  Sir  Kay,  Sir 
Griflet,  and  all  this  he  did  with  one  spear.  And  Sir  La* 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthwr.  325 

vaine  smote  down  Sir  Lucan  le  Butler,  and  Sir  Bedivere. 
And  then  Sir  Launcelot  gat  another  spear,  and  there  he 
smote  down  Sir  Agravaine,  Sir  Gaheris,  and  Sir  Mordred, 
and  Sir  Meliot  de  Logris.  And  Sir  Lavaine  smote  down 
Ozanna  le  Cure  Hardy :  and  then  Sir  Launcelot  drew  his 
sword,  and  there  he  smote  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the 
left  hand,  and  by  great  force  he  unhorsed  Sir  Safere,  Sir 
Epinogris,  and  Sir  Galleron.  And  then  the  knights  of 
the  Table  Round  withdrew  them  aback,  after  they  had 
gotten  their  horses  as  well  as  they  might. 

"  Oh,  mercy,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "  what  knight  is  yonder, 
that  doth  so  marvellous  deeds  of  arms  in  that  field  ? " 

"  I  wot  what  he  is,"  said  King  Arthur,  "  but  as  at  this 
time  I  will  not  name  him." 

"Sir,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "I  would  say  it  were  Sir 
Launcelot,  by  his  riding  and  his  buffets  that  I  see  him 
deal :  but  ever  me  seemeth  it  should  be  not  he,  for  that  he 
beareth  the  red  sleeve  upon  his  head,  for  I  wist  him  never 
bear  token,  at  no  jousts,  of  lady  nor  gentlewoman." 

"Let  him  be,"  said  King  Arthur,  "he  will  be  better 
known  and  do  more  or  ever  he  depart." 

Then  the  party  that  were  against  King  Arthur  were 
ivell  comforted,  and  then  they  held  them  together,  that 
beforehand  were  sore  rebuked.  Then  Sir  Bors,  Sir  Ector 
de  Maris,  and  Sir  Lionel,  called  unto  them  the  knights  of 
their  blood,  as  Sir  Blamor  de  Ganis,  Sir  Bleoberis,  Sir 
Aliduke,  Sir  Galihud,  Sir  Galihodin,  Sir  Bellangere  le 
Beuse,  so  these  nine  knights  of  Sir  Launcelot's  kin  thrust 
in  mightily,  for  they  were  all  noble  knights.  And  they, 
of  great  hate  and  despite  that  they  had  unto  him,  thought 
to  rebuke  that  noble  knight  Sir  Launcelot,  and  Sir  La- 
vaine, for  they  knew  them  not.  And  so  they  came  hurt- 
ling together,  and  smote  down  many  knights  of  North 


$26  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

^alis  and  of  Northumberland.  And  when  Sir  Launcelot 
saw  them  fare  so,  he  gat  a  spear  in  his  hand,  and  there 
encountered  with  them  all  at  once ;  Sir  Bors,  Sir  Ector  de 
Maris,  and  Sir  Lionel  smote  him  all  at  once  with  their 
spears. 

And  with  force  of  themselves  they  smote  Sir  Launce- 
lot's  horse  unto  the  ground ;  and  by  misfortune  Sir  Bors 
smote  Sir  Launcelot  through  the  shield  into  the  side,  and 
the  spear  brake,  and  the  head  abode  still  in  the  side. 
When  Sir  Lavaine  saw  his  master  lie  upon  the  ground,  he 
ran  to  the  King  of  Scotland  and  smote  him  to  the  ground, 
and  by  great  force  he  took  his  horse  and  brought  him  to 
Sir  Launcelot,  and  mauger  [in  spite  of~\  them  all  he  made 
him  to  mount  upon  that  horse.  And  then  Sir  Launcelot 
gat  him  a  great  spear  in  his  hand,  and  there  he  smote  Sir 
Bors  both  horse  and  man  to  the  ground ;  and  in  the  same 
wise  he  served  Sir  Ector  and  Sir  Lionel ;  and  Sir  Lavaine 
smote  down  Sir  Blamor  de  Ganis.  And  then  Sir  Launce- 
lot began  to  draw  his  sword,  for  he  felt  himself  so  sore 
hurt,  that  he  wend  there  to  have  had  his  death ;  and  then 
he  smote  Sir  Bleoberis  such  a  buffet  upon  the  helm  that 
he  fell  down  to  the  ground  in  a  swoon ;  and  in  the  same 
wise  he  served  Sir  Aliduke  and  Sir  Galihud.  And  Sir 
Lavaine  smote  down  Sir  Bellangere,  that  was  the  son  of 
Sir  Alisander  Lorphelin.  And  by  that  time  Sir  Bors 
was  horsed ;  and  then  he  came  with  Sir  Ector  and  Sir 
Lionel,  and  they  three  smote  with  their  swords  upon  Sir 
Launcelot's  helmet ;  and  when  he  felt  their  buffets,  and 
his  wound  that  was  so  grievous,  then  he  thought  to  do 
what  he  might  whiles  he  might  endure ;  and  then  he  gave 
Sir  Bors  such  a  buffet  that  he  made  him  to  bow  his  head 
passing  low ;  and  therewithal  he  razed  off  his  helm,  and 
might  have  s\ain  him,  and  so  pulled  him  down.  And  in 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  327 

the  same  manner  of  wise  he  served  Sir  Ector  and  Sir 
Lionel,  for  he  might  have  slain  them.  But  when  he  saw 
their  visages  his  heart  might  not  serve  him  thereto,  but 
left  them  there  lying.  And  then  after  he  hurled  in  among 
the  thickest  press  of  them  all,  and  did  there  marvellous 
deeds  of  arms  that  ever  any  man  saw  or  heard  speak  of. 
And  alway  the  good  knight  Sir  Lavaine  was  with  him ; 
and  there  Sir  Launcelot  with  his  sword  smote  and  pulled 
down  moe  [more]  than  thirty  knights,  and  the  most  part 
were  of  the  Round  Table.  And  Sir  Lavaine  did  full  well 
that  day,  for  he  smote  down  ten  knights  of  the  Round 
Table.  ' 


CHAPTER  X. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  SIR  LAVAINE  DEPARTED  OUT  or  THE  FULIS 

AND   IN  WHAT  JEOPARDY   SlR    LAUNCELOT  WAS. 

AH  mercy,  Jesu,"  said  Sir  Gawaine  unto  King  Arthur, 
"I  marvel  what  knight  he  is  with  the  red  sleeve." 

"  Sir,"  said  King  Arthur,  "  he  will  be  known  or  he  de- 
part." 

And  then  the  king  let  blow  unto  lodging,  and  the  prize 
was  given  by  heralds  to  the  knight  with  the  white  shield 
and  that  bare  the  red  sleeve.  Then  came  the  king  with 
the  hundred  knights,  the  King  of  Northgalis,  and  the 
King  of  Northumberland,  and  Sir  Galahalt  the  haut 
prince,  and  said  unto  Sir  Launcelot,  "Fair  knight,  God 
thee  bless,  for  much  have  ye  done  this  day  for  us,  there- 
fore we  pray  you  that  ye  will  come  with  us  that  ye  may 
receive  the  honor  and  the  prize,  as  ye  have  worshipfully 
deserved  it." 

"  My  fair  lords,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  wit  ye  well,  if  I 


328  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

have  deserved  thanks,  I  have  sore  bought  it,  for  I  am  like 
never  to  escape  with  my  life ;  therefore  I  pray  you  that 
ye  will  suffer  me  to  depart  where  me  liketh,  for  I  am  sore 
hurt ;  I  had  liever  \rather\  to  rest  me  than  to  be  lord  of 
all  the  world."  And  therewith  he  groaned  piteously,  and 
rode  a  great  gallop  away  from  them  until  he  came  to  a 
wood  side,  and  when  he  saw  that  he  was  from  the  field 
nigh  a  mile,  that  he  was  sure  he  might  not  be  seen,  then 
said  he  with  a  high  voice,  "  O  gentle  knight  Sir  Lavaine, 
help  me  that  this  truncheon  were  out  of  my  side,  for  it 
sticketh  so  sore  that  it  nigh  slayeth  me." 

"  O  mine  own  lord,"  said  Sir  Lavaine,  "  I  would  fain  do 
that  might  please  you,  but  I  dread  me  sore,  and  I  draw 
out  the  truncheon,  that  ye  shall  be  in  peril  of  death." 

"I  charge  you,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "as  ye  love  me 
draw  it  out." 

And  therewithal  he  descended  from  his  horse,  and  right 
so  did  Sir  Lavaine,  and  forthwith  Sir  Lavaine  drew  the 
truncheon  out  of  his  side.  And  he  gave  a  great  shriek, 
and  a  marvellous  grisly  groan,  and  his  blood  brast  \bursi\ 
out  nigh  a  pint  at  once,  that  at  last  he  sank  down,  and  so 
swooned  pale  and  deadly. 

"Alas,"  said  Sir  Lavaine,  "what  shall  I  do?" 

And  then  he  turned  Sir  Launcelot  into  the  wind,  but  so 
he  lay  there  nigh  half  an  hour  as  he  had  been  dead.  And 
so  at  the  last  Sir  Launcelot  cast  up  his  eyes,  and  said,  "  O 
Lavaine,  help  me  that  I  were  on  my  horse,  for  here  is  fast 
by  within  this  two  mile  a  gentle  hermit,  that  sometime 
was  a  full  noble  knight  and  a  great  lord  of  possessions ; 
and  for  great  goodness  he  hath  taken  him  to  wilful  pov- 
erty, and  forsaken  many  lands,  and  his  name  is  Sir 
Baldwin  of  Brittany,  and  he  is  a  full  noble  surgeon,  and  a 
good  leech.  Now  let  see,  help  me  up  that  I  were  there. 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  329 

For  ever  my  heart  giveth  me  that  I  shall  never  die  of  my 
cousin-german's  hands.1* 

And  then  with  great  pain  Sir  Lavaine  holp  him  upon 
his  horse;  and  then  they  rode  a  great  gallop  together, 
and  ever  Sir  Launcelot  bled  that  it  ran  down  to  the  earth. 
And  so  by  fortune  they  came  to  that  hermitage,  which 
was  under  a  wood,  and  a  great  cliff  on  the  other  side,  and 
a  fair  water  running  under  it.  And  then  Sir  Lavaine 
beat  on  the  gate  with  the  butt  of  his  spear,  and  cried  fast, 
"Let  in,  for  Jesu's  sake." 

And  there  came  a  fair  child  to  them,  and  asked  them 
what  they  would  ? 

"  Fair  son,"  said  Sir  Lavaine,  "go  and  pray  thy  lord  the 
hermit  for  God's  sake  to  let  in  here  a  knight  that  is  full 
sore  wounded,  and  this  day  tell  thy  lord  that  I  saw  him  do 
more  deeds  of  arms  than  ever  I  heard  say  that  any  man 
did." 

So  the  child  went  in  lightly,  and  then  he  brought  the 
hermit,  the  which  was  a  passing  good  man.  So  when  Sir 
Lavaine  saw  him,  he  prayed  him  for  God's  sake  of 
succor. 

"What  knight  is  he?"  said  the  hermit,  "is  he  of  the 
house  of  King  Arthur  or  not  ? " 

"I  wot  not,"  said  Sir  Lavaine,  "what  is  he,  nor  what  is 
his  name,  but  well  I  wot  I  saw  him  do  marvellously  this 
day,  as  of  deeds  of  arms." 

"  On  whose  party  was  he  ? "  said  the  hermit. 

"  Sir,"  said  Sir  Lavaine,  "  he  was  this  day  against  King 
Arthur,  and  there  he  won  the  prize  of  all  the  knights  of 
the  Round  Table." 

"  I  have  seen  the  day,"  said  the  hermit,  "  I  would  have 
loved  him  the  worse  because  he  was  against  my  lord  King 
Arthur,  for  sometime  I  was  one  of  the  fellowship  of  the 


33°  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

Round  Table,  but  I  thank  God  now  I  am  otherwise  dii 
posed.     But  where  is  he  ?  let  me  see  him." 
Then  Sir  Lavaine  brought  the  hermit  to  him. 


CHAPTER  XL 
How  Sim  LAUNCELOT  WAS  BROUGHT  UNTO  AN  HERMIT  FO*  TO  BI 

HEALED  OF  HIS  WOUND,  AND  OF  OTHER  MATTERS. 

AND  when  the  hermit  beheld  him  as  he  sat  leaning 
upon  his  saddle-bow,  ever  bleeding  piteously,  [then] 
alway  the  knight  hermit  thought  that  he  should  know 
him,  but  he  could  not  bring  him  to  knowledge,  because  he 
was  so  pale  for  bleeding. 

"What  knight  are  ye,"  said  the  hermit,  "and  where 
were  ye  born  ? " 

"  Fair  lord,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  I  am  a  stranger  and 
a  knight  adventurous,  that  laboreth  throughout  many 
realms  for  to  win  worship." 

Then  the  hermit  advised  him  better  [looked  more 
closely],  and  saw  by  a  wound  on  the  cheek  that  he  was 
Sir  Launcelot. 

"  Alas !  "  said  the  hermit,  "  mine  own  lord,  why  hide  ye 
your  name  from  me?  forsooth  I  ought  to  know  you  of 
right,  for  ye  are  the  most  noble  knight  of  the  world,  for 
well  I  know  you  for  Sir  Launcelot." 

"  Sir,"  said  he,  "  sith  ye  know  me,  help  me,  and  [if]  ye 
may,  for  Christ's  sake,  for  I  would  be  out  of  this  pain  at 
once,  either  to  death  or  to  life." 

"  Have  ye  no  doubt,"  said  the  hermit,  "  ye  shall  live  and 
fare  right  well." 

And  so  the  hermit  called  to  him  two  of  his  servants ,- 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  331 

and  so  he  and  his  servants  bare  him  into  the  hermitage, 
and  lightly  unarmed  him,  and  laid  him  in  his  bed.  And 
then  anon  the  hermit  stanched  the  blood;  and  then  he 
made  him  to  drink  good  wine ;  so  by  that  Sir  Launcelot 
was  right  well  refreshed,  and  came  to  himself  again.  For 
in  those  days  it  was  not  the  guise  of  hermits  as  it  now  is 
in  these  days,  for  there  were  no  hermits  in  those  days  but 
that  they  had  been  men  of  worship  and  of  prowess,  and 
those  hermits  held  great  households,  and  refreshed  people 
that  were  in  distress. 

Now  turn  we  unto  King  Arthur,  and  leave  we  Sir 
Launcelot  in  the  hermitage. 

So  when  the  kings  were  come  together  on  both  parties, 
and  the  great  feast  should  be  holden,  King  Arthur  asked 
the  King  of  Northgalis  and  their  fellowship  where  was  that 
knight  that  bare  the  red  sleeve :  "  Bring  him  before  me, 
that  he  may  have  his  laud  and  honor  and  the  prize,  as  it  is 
right." 

Then  spake  Sir  Galahalt  the  haut  prince  and  the  king 
with  the  hundred  knights :  "  We  suppose  that  knight  is 
mischieved,  and  that  he  is  never  like  to  see  you,  nor  none 
of  us  all,  and  that  is  the  greatest  pity  that  ever  we  wist 
of  any  knight." 

"  Alas/'  said  King  Arthur,  "  how  may  this  be  ?  is  he  so 
hurt  ?  What  is  his  name  ? " 

"Truly,"  said  they  all,  "we  know  not  his  name,  nor 
from  whence  he  came,  nor  whither  he  would." 

"  Alas,"  said  the  king,  "  these  be  to  me  the  worst  tid- 
ings that  came  to  me  this  seven  year :  for  I  would  not  for 
all  the  lands  I  hold,  to  know  and  wit  it  were  so  that  that 
noble  knight  were  slain." 

"Know  ye  him  ? "  said  they  all. 

"As  for  that,"  said  King  Arthur,  "whether  I  know  him 


332  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

or  know  him  not,  ye  shall  not  know  for  me  what  man  he 
is,  but  Almighty  Jesu  send  me  good  tidings  of  him." 

And  so  said  they  all. 

"  By  my  head,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "  if  it  be  so,  that  the 
good  knight  be  so  sore  hurt,  it  is  great  damage  and  pity 
to  all  this  land,  for  he  is  one  of  the  noblest  knights  that 
ever  I  saw  in  a  field  handle  a  spear  or  a  sword ;  and  if  he 
may  be  found,  I  shall  find  him,  for  I  am  sure  that  he  is 
not  far  from  this  town." 

"  Bear  you  well,"  said  King  Arthur,  "  that  ye  may  find 
him,  without  that  he  be  in  such  a  plight  that  he  may  not 
bestir  himself." 

"Jesu  defend,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "but  I  shall  know 
what  he  is  and  if  I  may  find  him." 

Right  so  Sir  Gawaine  took  a  squire  with  him,  and  rode 
upon  two  hackneys  all  about  Camelot  within  six  or  seven 
mile ;  but  as  he  went  so  he  came  again,  and  could  hear 
no  word  of  him.  Then  within  two  days  King  Arthur  and 
all  the  fellowship  returned  to  London  again ;  and  so  as 
they  rode  by  the  way,  it  happened  Sir  Gawaine  at  Astolat 
to  lodge  with  Sir  Bernard,  whereas  Sir  Launcelot  was 
lodged.  And  so  as  Sir  Gawaine  was  in  his  chamber  for 
to  take  his  rest,  Sir  Bernard  the  old  baron  came  to  him, 
and  also  his  fair  daughter  Elaine,  for  to  cheer  him,  and  to 
ask  him  what  tidings  he  knew,  and  who  did  best  at  the 
tournament  at  Winchester. 

"  So  God  help  me,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "  there  were  two 
knights  which  bare  two  white  shields,  but  the  one  of  them 
bare  a  red  sleeve  upon  his  head,  and  certainly  he  was  one 
of  the  best  knights  that  ever  I  saw  joust  in  field ;  for  I 
dare  make  it  good,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "that  one  knight 
with  the  red  sleeve  smote  down  forty  valiant  knights  of 
the  Round  Table,  and  his  fellow  did  right  well  and  right 
worshipfully." 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  333 

"  Now  blessed  be  God,"  said  the  fair  maid  of  Astolat, 
"that  the  good  knight  sped  so  well,  for  he  is  the  man  ii* 
the  world  the  which  I  first  loved,  and  truly  he  shall  be  the 
last  man  that  ever  after  I  shall  love." 

"  Now,  fair  maid,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "  is  that  good 
knight  your  love  ? " 

" Certainly,"  said  she ;  "wit  ye  well  he  is  my  love." 

"  Then  know  ye  his  name  ? "  said  Sir  Gawaine. 

"  Nay,  truly,"  said  the  maid,  "  I  know  not  his  name,  nor 
from  whence  he  came ;  but  to  say  that  I  love  him,  I 
promise  God  and  you  that  I  love  him." 

"  How  had  ye  knowledge  of  him  first  ? "  said  Sir 
Gawaine. 


CHAPTER  XII. 
How  SIR  GAWAINE  HAD  KNOWLEDGE  THAT  IT  WAS  SIR  LAUNCELOI 

THAT  BA&E  THE  RED  SLEEVE. 


she  told  him  as  ye  have  heard  before,  and  how 
-L  her  father  betook  [intrusted]  him  her  brother  to  do 
him  service,  and  how  her  father  lent  him  her  brother  Sir 
Tirre's  shield,  "and  here  with  me  he  left  his  own  shield." 

"  For  what  cause  did  he  so  ?  "  said  Sir  Gawaine. 

"  For  this  cause,"  said  the  damsel,  "  for  his  shield  was 
too  well  known  among  many  noble  knights." 

"  Ah,  fair  damsel,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "  please  it  you  let 
me  have  a  sight  of  that  shield." 

"  Sir,"  said  she,  "  it  is  in  my  chamber  covered  with  a 
case,  and  it  it  will  please  you  to  come  in  with  me  ye  shall 
see  it." 

"Not  so,"  said  Sir  Bernard  unto  his  daughter;  "let 
•end  for  it" 


334  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

So  when  the  shield  was  come,  Sir  Gawaine  took  off  the 
case,  and  when  he  beheld  that  shield  he  knew  anon  that 
it  was  Sir  Launcelot's  shield,  and  his  own  arms. 

"  Ah  Jesu,  mercy ! "  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "  now  is  my  heart 
more  heavier  then  ever  it  was  before/' 

"  Why  ? "  said  the  damsel  Elaine. 

"For  I  have  a  great  cause,"  said  Sir  Gawaine;  "is  that 
knight  that  ovveth  that  shield  your  love  ? " 

"Yea,  truly,"  said  she,  "my  love  he  is,  God  would  that 
I  were  his  love." 

"  So  God  me  speed,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "  fair  damsel,  ye 
love  the  most  honorable  knight  of  the  world,  and  the  man 
of  most  worship." 

"  So  me  thought  ever,"  said  the  damsel,  "  for  never  or 
that  time  for  no  knight  that  ever  I  saw  loved  I  never  none 
erst." 

"  God  grant,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "  that  either  of  you 
may  rejoice  other,  but  that  is  in  a  great  adventure ;  but 
truly,"  said  Sir  Gawaine  unto  the  damsel,  "  ye  may  say  ye 
have  a  fair  grace,  for  why  I  have  known  that  noble  knight 
this  fourteen  years,  and  never  or  that  day  I  or  none  other 
knight,  I  dare  make  it  good,  saw  nor  heard  that  ever  he 
bare  token  or  sign  of  no  lady,  gentlewoman,  nor  maid,  at 
no  jousts  nor  tournament ;  and  therefore,  fair  maid,"  said 
Sir  Gawaine,  "  ye  are  much  beholden  to  give  him  thanks ; 
but  I  dread  me,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "ye  shall  never  see 
him  in  this  world,  and  that  is  great  pity  as  ever  was  of 
earthly  knight." 

"  Alas ! "  said  she,  "  how  may  this  be  ?  is  he  slain  ? " 

"  I  say  not  so,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "  but  wit  ye  well  that 
he  is  grievously  wounded  by  all  manner  of  signs,  and  by 
men's  sight  more  likelier  to  be  dead  than  to  be  alive,  and 
wit  ye  well  he  is  the  noble  knight  Sir  Launcelot,  for  by 
his  shield  I  know  him." 


Of  the  Death  9f  Arthur.  335 

"Alas!"  said  the  fair  maid  Elaine,  "how  may  it  be? 
what  was  his  hurt  ? " 

"  Truly,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "  the  man  in  the  world  that 
loveth  him  best  hurt  him  so ;  and  I  dare  say,  and  that 
knight  that  hurt  him  knew  the  very  certainty  that  he  had 
hurt  Sir  Launcelot,  it  would  be  the  most  sorrow  that  ever 
came  to  his  heart." 

"Now,  fair  father,"  said  then  Elaine,  "I  require  you 
give  me  leave  to  ride  and  to  seek  him,  or  else  I  wot  well 
I  shall  go  out  of  my  mind,  for  I  shall  never  stint  \stop~\ 
till  that  I  find  him  and  my  brother  Sir  Lavaine/' 

"  Do  as  it  liketh  you,"  said  her  father,  "  for  me  right 
>ore  repenteth  of  the  hurt  of  that  noble  knight." 

So  the  king  and  all  came  to  London,  and  there  Sir 
jawaine  openly  disclosed  to  all  the  court  that  it  was  Sir 
Launcelot  that  jousted  best. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

How  FAIR  ELAINE  AND  SIR  BORS  FOUND  SIR  LAUNCKLOT. 

r*O  as  the  fair  maid  Elaine  came  to  Winchester,  she 
-3  sought  there  all  about,  and  by  fortune  Sir  Lavaine 
ras  ridden  to  play  him  and  to  enchafe  his  horse.  And 
non,  as  fair  Elaine  saw  him,  she  knew  him,  and  then  she 

cried  aloud  unto  him ;  and  when  he  heard  her,  anon  he 

came  unto  her.     And  then  she  asked  her  brother,  "  How 

fareth  my  lord  Sir  Launcelot  ? " 

"Who  told  you,  sister,  that  my  lord's  name  was  Sir 

Launcelot  ? " 
Then  she  toll  him  how  Sir  Gawaine  by  his  shield  knew 

him.     So  they  rode  together  till  they  came  unto  the  her 


The  Boy's  King  Arthur 


mitage,  and  anon  she  alighted  ;  so  Sir  Lavaine  brought 
her  unto  Sir  Launcelot.  And  when  she  saw  him  lie  so 
Sick  and  pale  in  his  bed,  she  might  not  speak,  but  suddenly 
she  fell  unto  the  ground  in  a  swoon,  and  there  she  lay  a 
great  while.  And  when  she  was  relieved,  she  sighed  and 
said,  "  My  lord  Sir  Launcelot,  alas  !  why  go  ye  in  this 
plight  ?  "  and  then  she  swooned  again.  And  then  Sir 
Launcelot  prayed  Sir  Lavaine  to  take  her  up  and  to 
bring  her  to  him.  And  when  she  came  to  herself,  Sir 
Launcelot  kissed  her,  and  said,  "  Fair  maiden,  why  fare  ye 
thus  ?  Ye  put  me  to  pain  ;  wherefore  make  ye  no  more 
such  cheer  for,  and  ye  be  come  to  comfort  me,  ye  be 
right  welcome,  and  of  this  little  hurt  that  I  have,  I  shall 
be  right  hastily  whole,  by  the  grace  of  God.  But  I 
marvel,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "who  told  you  my  name." 

Then  the  fair  maiden  told  him  all  how  Sir  Gawaine  was 
lodged  with  her  father.  "  And  there  by  your  shield  he 
discovered  your  name." 

"  Alas,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  that  me  repenteth,  that 
my  name  is  known,  for  I  am  sure  it  will  turn  unto 
anger." 

So  this  maiden,  Elaine,  never  went  from  Sir  Launcelot, 
but  watched  him  day  and  night  and  did  such  attendance 
to  him  that  there  was  never  woman  did  more  kindlier  for 
man  than  she  did.  Then  Sir  Launcelot  prayed  Sir  La- 
vaine to  make  espies  in  Winchester  for  Sir  Bors  if  he 
came  there,  and  told  him  by  what  token  he  should  know 
him  by  a  wound  in  his  forehead. 

"  For  well  I  am  sure,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  that  Sir  Bors 
will  seek  me,  for  he  is  the  good  knight  that  hurt  me." 

Now  turn  we  unto  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis,  that  came  to 
Winchester  to  seek  after  his  cousin  Sir  Launcelot.  And 
so  when  he  came  to  Winchester,  anon  there  were  men  that 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  337 

Sir  Lavaine  had  made  to  lie  in  watch  for  such  a  man,  and 
anon  Sir  Lavaine  had  warning  thereof.  And  then  Sii 
Lavaine  came  to  Winchester  and  found  Sir  Bors.  And 
so  they  departed,  and  came  unto  the  hermitage  where  Sir 
Launcelot  was ;  and  when  Sir  Bors  saw  Sir  Launcelot  lie 
in  his  bed  all  pale  and  discolored,  anon  Sir  Bors  lost  his 
countenance,  and  for  kindness  and  for  pity  he  might  not 
speak,  but  wept  full  tenderly  a  great  while.  And  then 
when  he  might  speak,  he  said  unto  him  thus,  "  Alas !  that 
ever  such  a  caitiff  knight  as  I  am  should  have  power  by 
unhappiness  to  hurt  the  most  noblest  knight  of  the  world. 
Where  I  so  shamefully  set  upon  you  and  overcharged  you, 
and  where  ye  might  have  slain  me,  ye  saved  me,  and  so 
did  not  I :  for  I,  and  your  blood,  did  to  you  our  uttermost 
I  marvel  that  my  heart  or  my  blood  would  serve  me,  where- 
fore, my  lord  Sir  Launcelot,  I  ask  your  mercy." 

"  Fair  cousin,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  I  would  with  pride 
have  overcome  you  all,  and  there  in  my  pride  I  was  near 
slain,  and  that  was  in  mine  own  default,  for  I  might  have 
given  you  warning  of  my  being  there.  Therefore,  fair 
cousin,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "let  this  speech  overpass, 
and  all  shall  be  welcome  that  God  sendeth ;  and  let  us 
leave  off  this  matter,  and  let  us  speak  of  some  rejoicing ; 
for  this  that  is  done  may  not  be  undone,  and  let  us  find  a 
remedy  how  soon  that  I  may  be  whole." 

And  so  upon  a  day  they  took  their  horses  and  took 
Elaine  la  Blanche  with  them ;  and  when  they  came  to 
Astolat,  there  they  were  well  lodged  and  had  great  cheer 
of  Sir  Bernard  the  old  baron  and  of  Sir  Tirre  his  son. 
And  so  on  the  morrow,  when  Sir  Launcelot  should  de- 
part, fair  Elaine  brought  her  father  with  her  and  her  two 
brethren  Sir  Tirre  and  Sir  Lavaine,  and  thus  she  said : 


338  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

OF  THE  GREAT  LAMENTATION  THAT  THE  FAIR  MAID  OF  ASTOLAT  MADE 
WHEN  SIR  LAUNCELOT  SHOULD  DEPART,  AND  HOW  SHE  DIED  FOE.  BIS 
LOVE. 

MY  lord  Sir  Launcelot,  now  I  see  that  ye  will  depart ; 
fair  and  courteous  knight,  have  mercy  upon  me, 
and  suffer  me  not  to  die  for  your  love." 

"  What  would  ye  that  I  did  ? "  said  Sir  Launcelot. 

"  I  would  have  you  unto  my  husband,"  said  the  maid 
Elaine. 

"  Fair  damsel,  I  thank  you,"  said  Sir  Launcelot ;  "  but 
certainly,"  said  he,  "  I  cast  me  never  to  be  married." 

"  Alas ! "  said  she,  "  then  must  I  needs  die  for  your 
love." 

"Ye  shall  not,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "for  wit  ye  well, 
fair  damsel,  that  I  might  have  been  married  and  I  had 
would,  but  I  never  applied  me  to  be  married ;  but  because, 
fair  damsel,  that  ye  will  love  me  as  ye  say  ye  do,  I  will,  for 
your  good  love  and  kindness,  show  you  some  goodness, 
and  that  is  this :  that  wheresoever  ye  will  set  your  heart 
upon  some  good  knight  that  will  wed  you,  I  shall  give  you 
together  a  thousand  pound  yearly  to  you  and  to  your 
heirs;  thus  much  will  I  give  you,  fair  maid,  for  your 
kindness,  and  alway  while  I  live  to  be  your  own  knight." 

"  Of  all  this,"  said  the  damsel,  "  I  will  none,  for,  but  if 
you  will  wed  me,  wit  you  well,  Sir  Launcelot,  my  good 
days  are  done." 

"Fair  damsel,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "of  [this]  ye  must 
pardon  me." 

Then  she  shrieked  shrilly,  and  fell  down  in  a  swoon; 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur  339 

and  then  women  bare  her  into  her  chamber,  and  there  she 
made  overmuch  sorrow.  And  then  Sir  Launcelot  would 
depart ;  and  there  he  asked  Sir  Lavaine  what  he  would 
do. 

"What  should  I  do,"  said  Sir  Lavaine,  "but  follow  you, 
but  if  ye  drive  me  from  you,  or  command  me  to  go  from 
you?" 

Th£n  came  Sir  Bernard  to  Sir  Launcelot,  and  said  to 
him,  "  I  cannot  see  but  that  my  daughter  Elaine  will  die 
for  your  sake." 

"  I  may  not  do  withal,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  for  that 
me  sore  repenteth ;  for  I  report  me  to  yourself  that  my 
proffer  is  fair,  and  me  repenteth,"  ssdd  Sir  Launcelot, 
"  that  she  loveth  me  as  she  doth  :  I  was  never  the  causer 
of  it,  for  I  report  me  to  your  son,  I  early  nor  late  proffered 
her  bounty  nor  fair  behests  ;  and  I  am  right  heavy  of  her 
distress,  for  she  is  a  full  fair  maiden,  good,  and  gentle,  and 
well  taught." 

"  Father,"  said  Sir  Lavaine,  "  she  doth  as  I  do,  for  since 
I  first  saw  my  lord  Sir  Launcelot  I  could  never  depart 
from  him,  nor  nought  I  will  and  I  may  follow  him." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  took  his  leave,  and  so  they  departed, 
and  came  unto  Winchester.  And  when  King  Arthur  wist 
that  Sir  Launcelot  was  come,  whole  and  sound,  the  king 
made  great  joy  of  him,  and  so  did  Sir  Gawaine,  and  all 
the  knights  of  the  Round  Table  except  Sir  Agravaine  and 
Sir  Mordred. 

Now  speak  we  of  the  fair  maiden  of  Astolat,  that  made 
such  sorrow  day  and  night,  that  she  never  slept,  eat,  nor 
drank ;  and  ever  she  made  her  complaint  unto  Sir  Launce- 
lot. So  when  she  had  thus  endured  a  ten  days,  that  she 
feebled  so  that  she  must  needs  pass  out  of  this  world,  then 
she  shrived  her  clean,  and  received  her  Creator  {took  the 


340  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

Holy  Communion}.  Then  her  ghostly  father  bade  her 
leave  such  thoughts.  Then  she  said,  "Why  should  I 
leave  such  thoughts  ?  am  I  not  an  earthly  woman  ?  and 
all  the  while  the  breath  is  in  my  body  I  may  complain 
me,  for  my  belief  is  I  do  none  offence  though  I  love  an 
earthly  man,  and  I  take  God  to  my  record  I  never  loved 
none  but  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  nor  never  shall.  For 
our  sweet  Saviour  Jesu  Christ,"  said  the  maiden,  "  I  take 
thee  to  record  I  was  never  greater  offender  against  thy 
laws  but  that  I  loved  this  noble  knight  Sir  Launcelot  out 
of  all  measure,  and  of  myself,  good  Lord,  I  might  not 
withstand  the  fervent  love  wherefore  I  have  my  death." 

And  then  she  called  her  father  Sir  Bernard,  and  hei 
brother  Sir  Tirre,  and  heartily  she  prayed  her  father  that 
her  brother  might  write  a  letter  like  as  she  would  indite 
it.  And  so  her  father  granted  her.  And  when  the  letter 
was  written  word  by  word  like  as  she  had  devised,  then 
she  prayed  her  father  that  she  might  be  watched  until  she 
were  dead,  "  And  while  my  body  is  whole,  let  this  letter 
be  put  into  my  right  hand,  ani  my  hand  bound  fast  i»:.th 
the  letter  until  that  I  be  cold,  and  let  me  be  put  in  a  fair 
bed  with  all  the  richest  clothes  that  I  have  about  me,  and 
so  let  my  bed  and  all  my  rich  clothes  be  laid  with  me  in  a 
chariot  to  the  next  place  whereas  the  Thames  is,  and  there 
let  me  be  put  in  a  barge,  and  but  one  man  with  me,  such 
as  ye  trust,  to  steer  me  thither,  and  that  my  barge  be 
covered  with  black  samite  over  and  over.  Thus,  father,  I 
beseech  you  let  me  be  done." 

So  her  father  granted  her  faithfully  that  all  this  thing 
should  be  done  like  as  she  had  devised.  Then  her  father 
and  her  brother  made  great  dole,  for,  when  this  was  done, 
anon  she  died.  And  so  when  she  was  dead,  the  corpse  and 
the  bed  and  all  was  led  the  next  way  unto  the  Thames, 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  341 

and  there  a  man  and  the  corpse  and  all  were  put  in  a  barge 
on  the  Thames,  and  so  the  man  steered  the  barge  to 
Westminster,  and  there  he  rowed  a  great  while  to  and  fro 
or  any  man  espied  it. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

How  THE  CORPSE  OF  THE  FAIR  MAID  OF  ASTOLAT  ARRIVED  BEFORE 
KING  ARTHUR,  AND  OF  THE  BURYING,  AND  HOW  SIR  LAUNCELOT 
OFFERED  THE  MASS-PENNY. 

SO  by  fortune  King  Arthur  and  Queen  Guenever  were 
speaking  together  at  a  window  ;  and  so  as  they  looked 
into  the  Thames,  they  espied  the  black  barge,  and  had 
marvel  what  it  might  mean. 

Then  the  king  called  Sir  Kay,  and  showed  him  it. 

"Sir,"  said  Sir  Kay,  "wit  ye  well  that  there  is  some 
new  tidings." 

"Go  ye  thither,"  said  the  king  unto  Sir  Kay,  "and  take 
with  you  Sir  Brandiles  and  Sir  Agravaine,  and  bring  me 
ready  word  what  is  there." 

Then  these  three  knights  departed,  and  came  to  the 
barge,  and  went  in ;  and  there  they  found  the  fairest 
corpse  lying  in  a  rich  bed  that  ever  they  saw,  and  a  poor 
man  sitting  in  the  end  of  the  barge,  and  no  word  would 
he  speak.  So  these  three  knights  returned  unto  the  king 
again,  and  told  him  what  they  had  found. 

"That  fair  corpse  will  I  see,"  said  King  Arthur. 

And  then  the  king  took  the  queen  by  the  hand  and 
went  thither.  Then  the  king  made  the  barge  to  be  holden 
fast ;  and  then  the  king  and  the  queen  went  in,  with  cer- 
tain knights  with  them,  and  there  they  saw  a  fair  gentle- 


342  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

woman  lying  in  a  rich  bed,  covered  unto  her  middle  with 
many  rich  clothes,  and  all  was  of  cloth  of  gold ;  and  she 
lay  as  though  she  had  smiled.  Then  the  queen  espied 
the  letter  in  the  right  hand,  and  told  the  king  thereof. 
Then  the  king  took  it  in  his  hand,  and  said,  "  Now  I  am 
sure  this  letter  will  tell  what  she  was,  and  why  she  is  come 
hither." 

Then  the  king  and  the  queen  went  out  of  the  barge ; 
and  the  king  commanded  certain  men  to  wait  upon  the 
barge ;  and  so  when  the  king  was  come  within  his  cham- 
ber, he  called  many  knights  about  him,  and  said  that  he 
would  wit  openly  what  was  written  within  that  letter. 
Then  the  king  brake  it,  and  made  a  clerk  to  read  it ;  and 
this  was  the  intent  of  the  letter:  "Most  noble  knight, 
Sir  Launcelot,  now  hath  death  made  us  two  at  debate  for 
your  love ;  I  was  your  lover,  that  men  called  the  fair  maid 
of  Astolat ;  therefore  unto  all  ladies  I  make  my  moan ; 
yet  pray  for  my  soul,  and  bury  me  at  the  least,  and  offer 
ye  my  mass-penny.  This  is  my  last  request.  Pray  for 
my  soul,  Sir  Launcelot,  as  thou  art  a  knight  peerless." 

This  was  all  the  substance  in  the  letter.  And  when  it 
was  read,  the  king,  the  queen,  and  all  the  knights  wept 
for  pity  of  the  doleful  complaints.  Then  was  Sir  Launce- 
lot sent  for.  And  when  he  was  come,  King  Arthur  made 
the  letter  to  be  read  to  him ;  and  when  Sir  Launcelot 
heard  it  word  by  word,  he  said,  "  My  lord  Arthur,  wit  ye 
well  I  am  right  heavy  of  the  death  of  this  fair  damsel. 
God  knoweth  I  was  never  causer  of  her  death  by  my  will- 
ing, and  that  will  I  report  me  to  her  own  brother ;  here  he 
is,  Sir  Lavaine.  I  will  not  say  nay,  but  that  she  was  both 
fair  and  good,  and  much  I  was  beholden  unto  her,  but  she 
loved  me  out  of  measure." 

"Ye  might  have  showed  her/  said  the  queen,  "some 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  343 

bounty  and  gentleness,  that  might  have  preserved  her 
life."  ' 

"  Madam,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  she  would  none  other 
way  be  answered,  but  that  she  would  be  my  wife,  and  of 
[this]  I  would  not  grant  her ;  but  I  proffered  her,  for  her 
good  love  that  she  showed  me,  a  thousand  pound  yearly  to 
her  and  to  her  heirs,  and  to  wed  any  manner  knight  that 
she  could  find  best  to  love  in  her  heart.  For,  madam," 
said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  I  love  not  to  be  constrained  to  love ; 
for  love  must  arise  of  the  heart,  and  not  by  no  constraint " 

"  That  is  truth,"  said  the  king,  and  many  knights  :  "  love 
is  free  in  himself,  and  never  will  be  bounden ;  for  where 
he  h  bounden  he  looseth  himself." 

Then  said  the  king  unto  Sir  Launcelot,  "  It  will  be  your 
worship  that  ye  oversee  that  she  be  buried  worshipfully." 

'Sir,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "that  shall  be  done  as  I  can 
best  devise." 

And  so  many  knights  went  thither  to  behold  the  fair 
dea  d  maid.  And  on  the  morrow  she  was  richly  buried ; 
anc":  Sir  Launcelot  offered  her  mass-penny,  and  all  the 
knijhts  of  the  Round  Table  that  were  there  at  that  time 
offc  red  with  Sir  Launcelot.  And  then  when  all  was  done, 
the  poor  man  went  again  with  the  barge. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Ho  7  QUEEN  GUENEVER  RODE  ON  MAYING  WITH  CERTAIN  KNIGHTS  OF 
THE  ROUND  TABLE  CLOTHED  ALL  IN  GREEN. 

NOW  it  befell  in  the  month  of  lusty  May  that  Queen 
Guenever  called  unto  her  knights  of  the  Round 
T  ble,  and  she  gave  them  warning,  that  early  in  the  morn- 


344  2T**  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

Ing  she  should  ride  on  maying1  into  woods  and  fields 
beside  Westminster,  "  and  I  warn  you  that  there  be  none 
of  you  but  that  he  be  well  horsed,  and  that  ye  all  be 
clothed  in  green,  either  in  silk  or  in  cloth ;  and  I  shall 
bring  with  me  ten  ladies,  and  every  knight  shall  have  a 
lady  behind  him,  and  every  knight  shall  have  a  squire  and 
two  yeomen."  So  they  made  them  ready  in  the  freshest 
manner,  and  these  were  the  names  of  the  knights :  Sir 
Kay  the  seneschal,  Sir  Agravaine,  Sir  Brandiles,  Sir  Sag- 
ramor  le  Desirous,  Sir  Dodinas  le  Savage,  Sir  Ozanna  le 
Cure  Hardy,  Sir  Ladinas  of  the  Forest  Savage,  Sir  Per- 
sant  of  Inde,  Sir  Ironside  that  was  called  the  knight  of 
the  red  lawns,  and  Sir  Pelleas  the  lover,  and  these  ten 
knights  made  them  ready  in  the  freshest  manner  to  ride 
with  the  queen.  And  so  upon  the  morn  they  took  their 
horses,  with  the  queen,  and  rode  on  maying  in  woods  and 
meadows,  as  it  pleased  them,  in  great  joy  and  delights : 
for  the  queen  had  cast  to  have  been  again  with  King 
Arthur  at  the  furthest  by  ten  of  the  clock,  and  so  was 
that  time  her  purpose.  Then  there  was  a  knight,  that 
hight  Meliagrance,  and  he  was  son  unto  King  Bagdema- 
gus,  and  this  knight  had  at  that  time  a  castle,  of  the  gift 
of  King  Arthur,  within  seven  mile  of  Westminster ;  and 
this  knight  Sir  Meliagrance  loved  passing  well  Queen 
Guenever,  and  so  had  he  done  long  and  many  years. 
And  he  had  lain  in  a  wait  for  to  steal  away  the  queen, 
but  evermore  he  forbare  for  because  of  Sir  Launcelot,  for 
in  no  wise  he  would  meddle  with  the  queen,  and  Sir 
Launcelot  were  in  her  company,  or  else  and  he  were  near 
hand  her.  And  that  time  was  such  a  custom  the  queen 
rode  never  without  a  great  fellowship  of  men  of  arms  about 

*  "  On  maying : "  a^maying.    Compare  "  on  live,"  old  form  for  alive;  ''  on 
hunting,"  old  form  for  a-kunting ;  and  the  like. 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  345 

her ;  and  they  were  many  good  knights,  and  the  most  part 
were  young  men  that  would  have  worship,  and  they  were 
called  the  queen's  knights,  and  never  in  no  battle,  tourna- 
ment, nor  jousts,  they  bare  none  of  them  no  manner  of 
knowledging  of  their  own  arms,  but  plain  white  shields, 
and  thereby  they  were  called  the  queen's  knights.  And 
then  when  it  happed  any  of  them  to  be  of  great  worship 
by  his  noble  deeds,  then  at  the  next  feast  of  Pentecost,  if 
there  were  any  slain  or  dead,  as  there  was  no  year  that 
there  failed  but  some  were  dead,  then  was  there  chosen  in 
his  stead  that  was  dead  the  most  men  of  worship  that 
were  called  the  queen's  knights.  And  thus  they  came  up 
all  first,  or  they  were  renowned  men  of  worship,  both  Sir 
Launcelot  and  all  the  remnant  of  them.  But  this  knight, 
Sir  Meliagrance,  had  espied  the  queen  well  and  her  pur- 
pose, and  how  Sir  Launcelot  was  not  with  her,  and  how 
she  had  no  men  of  arms  with  her  but  the  ten  noble 
knights  all  arrayed  in  green  for  maying.  Then  he  pro- 
vided him  a  twenty  men  of  arms  and  an  hundred  archers, 
for  to  destroy  the  queen  and  her  knights,  for  he  thought 
that  time  was  the  best  season  to  take  the  queen. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

How  SIR  MELIAGRANCE   TOOK  THE  QUEEN  AND   ALL   HER  KNIGHTS, 

WHICH  WERE  SORE  HURT  IN  FIGHTING. 

SO  as  the  queen  had  mayed  and  all  her  knights  all  were 
bedashed  with  herbs,  mosses,  and  flowers,  in  the  best 
manner  and  freshest,  right  so  came  out  of  a  wood  Sir 
Meliagrance  with  an  eightscore   men  well  harnessed,  as 
they  should  fight  in  battle  of  arrest,  and  bade  the  queen 


346  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

and  her  knights  abide,  for  maugre  their  heads  they  should 
abide. 

"  Traitor  knight,"  said  Queen  Guenever,  "  what  castest 
thou  for  to  do  ?  Wilt  thou  shame  thyself  ?  Bethink  thee 
bow  thou  art  a  king's  son,  and  knight  of  the  Table  Round, 
and  thou  to  be  about  to  dishonor  the  noble  king  that  made 
thee  knight :  thou  shamest  all  knighthood  and  thyself ; 
and  me,  I  let  thee  wit,  shalt  thou  never  shame,  for  I  had 
liever  cut  my  throat  in  twain." 

"  As  for  all  this  language,"  said  Sir  Meliagrance,  "  be  it 
as  it  may,  for  wit  you  well,  madam,  I  have  loved  you  many 
a  year,  and  never  or  now  could  I  get  you  at  such  an  ad- 
vantage as  I  do  now,  and  therefore  I  will  take  you  as  I 
find  you." 

Then  the  ten  knights  of  the  Round  Table  drew  their 
swords,  and  the  other  let  run  at  them  with  their  spears ; 
and  the  ten  knights  manly  abode  them,  and  smote  away 
their  spears,  that  no  spear  did  them  harm.  Then  they 
lashed  together  with  their  swords ;  and  anon  Sir  Kay, 
Sir  Griflet,  Sir  Agravaine,  Sir  Dodinas,  and  Sir  Ozanna 
were  smitten  to  the  earth  with  grimly  wounds.  Then  Sir 
Brandiles  and  Sir  Persant,  Sir  Ironside  and  Sir  Pelleas, 
fought  long,  and  they  were  full  sore  wounded,  for  these 
knights  or  ever  they  were  laid  to  the  ground  slew  forty 
men  of  the  best  of  them.  So  when  the  queen  saw  her 
knights  thus  dolefully  wounded,  and  needs  must  be  slain 
at  the  last,  then  for  pity  and  sorrow  she  cried  and  said, 
"  Sir  Meliagrance,  slay  not  my  knights,  and  I  will  go  with 
thee  upon  this  covenant,  that  thou  save  them,  and  suffer 
them  to  be  no  more  hurt ;  with  this,  that  they  be  led  with 
me  wheresoever  thou  leadest  me,  for  I  will  rather  slay 
myself  than  I  will  go  with  thee,  unless  that  these  my 
noble  knights  may  be  in  presence." 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  347 

"Madam,"  said  Sir  Meliagrance,  "for  your  sake  they 
shall  be  led  with  you  into  my  castle,  with  that  ye  will .  be 
ruled  and  ride  with  me." 

Then  Queen  Guenever  prayed  the  four  knights  to  leave 
their  fight,  and  she  and  they  would  not  depart. 

"Madam,"  said  Sir  Pelleas,  "we  will  do  as  ye  do,  for  as 
for  me,  I  take  no  force  [account}  of  my  life  nor  death." 

For  Sir  Pelleas  gave  such  buffets  there  that  no  armor 
might  hold  them. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 
How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  RODE  IN  A  CART  AND  RESCUED  THE  QUEEN. 

f  "\TOW  the  queen  privily  sent  a  page  to  Sir  Launcelot 
L 1  ^1  and  told  him  how  she  was  foully  beset.  And  there- 
upon Sir  Launcelot,  sending  word  to  Sir  Lavaine  to  follow, 
made  his  horse  to  swim  over  Thames  to  Lambeth,  and 
rode  as  fast  as  ever  he  could.  And  within  a  while  thirty 
of  Sir  Meliagrance's  archers,  whom  Sir  Meliagrance  had 
placed  in  a  bushment  (for  he  knew  that  the  queen  had 
sent  a  page  to  Sir  Launcelot),  barred  Sir  Launcelot,  and 
shot  his  horse  with  many  arrows.  Now  Sir  Launcelot 
could  not  come  to  the  archers,  by  reason  of  many  ditches 
and  hedges  betwixt  him  and  them.] 

And  then  by  fortune  there  came  by  a  cart,  the  which 
came  thither  for  to  fetch  wood. 

"Tell  me,  carter,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "what  I  shall 
give  thee  for  to  suffer  me  to  leap  into  the  cart,  and  that 
thou  bring  me  unto  a  castle  within  these  two  miles." 

"  Thou  shalt  not  come  within  my  cart,"  said  the  carter, 
"for  I  am  sent  for  to  fetch  wood  for  my  lord  Sir  Meli 
agrance." 


348  The  Boy  s  King  Arthur. 

"With  him  would  I  fain  speak,"  said  Sir  Launcclot. 

"  Thou  shalt  not  go  with  me,"  said  the  carter. 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  leaped  to  him,  and  gave  him  such  a 
buffet  that  he  fell  to  the  ground  stark  dead.  Then  the 
other  carter,  his  fellow,  was  afeared. 

"  Leap  up  into  the  cart,"  said  the  carter,  "  and  yc  shall 
be  there  anon." 

So  the  carter  drove  forth  as  fast  as  he  could ;  and  Sir 
Launcelot's  horse  followed  the  cart  with  more  than  forty 
arrows  broad  and  rough  in  him.  And  more  than  an  hour 
and  a  half  Queen  Guenever  was  in  a  bay  window  waiting 
with  her  ladies,  and  espied  an  armed  knight  standing  in  a 
cart. 

"  See,  madam,"  said  a  lady,  "  whereas  rideth  in  a  cart 
a  goodly  armed  knight,  I  suppose  that  he  rideth  to  hang- 
ing." 

"  Where  ? "  said  the  queen. 

And  then  the  queen  espied  by  his  shield  that  he  was 
there  himself  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake ;  and  by  this  was 
Sir  Launcelot  come  to  the  gates  of  that  castle,  and  there 
he  descended  down,  and  cried,  that  all  the  castle  rang  of 
it,  "Where  art  thou,  false  traitor  Sir  Meliagrance,  and 
knight  of  the  Table  Round  ?  Now  come  forth  here,  thou 
traitor  knight,  thou  and  thy  fellowship  with  thee :  for  here 
I  am,  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  that  shall  fight  with  you." 

And  therewithal  he  bare  the  gate  wide  open  upon  the 
porter,  and  smote  him  under  his  ear  with  his  gauntlet  that 
his  neck  brast  in  sunder. 

When  Sir  Meliagrance  heard  that  Sir  Launcelot  was 
there,  he  ran  unto  Queen  Guenever,  and  fell  upon  his 
knee,  and  said,  "  Mercy,  madam,  now  I  put  me  wholly  into 
your  grace." 

"  What  aileth  you  now  ? "  said  Queen  Guenever.     "  For 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  349 

sooth  I  might  well  wit  some  good  knight  would  revenge 
me,  though  my  lord  Arthur  wist  not  of  this  your  work." 

"  Madam,'*  said  Sir  Meliagrance,  "  all  this  that  is  amiss 
on  my  part  shall  be  amended  right  as  yourself  will  devise, 
and  wholly  I  put  me  in  your  grace." 

"  What  would  ye  that  I  did  ? "  said  the  queen. 

"  No  more,"  said  Sir  Meliagrance,  "  but  that  ye  rule  my 
lord  Sir  Launcelot.  And  my  body  and  all  that  I  have  I 
put  in  your  rule." 

"  Ye  say  well,"  said  the  queen ;  "  and  better  is  peace 
than  always  war." 

[Then  Sir  Meliagrance  yielded  him ;  and  the  queen,  by 
great  entreaty,  procured  that  Sir  Launcelot  spared  his 
life. 

But  still  was  Sir  Meliagrance  upon  treachery.] 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  WAS  TAKEN  IN  A  TRAP  BY  TREACHERY  OF  SIR 
MELIAGRANCE. 

ND  then  while  they  abode  in  that  castle  Sir  Melia- 
grance  appealed  the  queen  of  treason,  and  Sir 
Launcelot  offered  himself  to  do  battle  with  Sir  Melia- 
grance in  the  queen's  right.  Then  Sir  Meliagrance  laid  a 
plot  whereby  he  weened  Sir  Launcelot  would  not  be  able 
to  come  against  him  on  the  day  set  for  the  battle  betwixt 
them  two.  And  this  was  the  plot  Sir  Meliagrance  laid. 
Upon  a  certain  night  he]  said  unto  Sir  Launcelot, 
"  Pleaseth  it  you  to  see  the  features  of  this  castle  ? " 

"With  a  good  will,"  said  Sir  Launcelot 

And  then  they  went  together  from  chamber  to  chamber, 


350  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

for  Sir  Launcelot  dreaded  no  perils.  For  ever  a  man  of 
worship  and  of  prowess  dreadeth  alway  perils  least,  for 
they  ween  that  every  man  is  as  they  be.  And  as  he  went 
with  Sir  Meliagrance,  he  trod  on  a  trap,  and  the  board 
rolled,  and  therewith  Sir  Launcelot  fell  down  more  than 
ten  fathoms  into  a  cave  upon  straw.  And  then  Sir  Melia- 
grance departed,  and  made  semblant  as  though  he  had  not 
wist  where  he  was.  And  when  Sir  Launcelot  was  thus 
missed,  they  marvelled  where  he  was  become.  And  the 
knights  told  unto  King  Arthur  how  Sir  Meliagrance  had 
appealed  the  queen  of  high  treason,  and  how  Sir  Launce- 
lot had  received  the  glove  of  him,  "  and  this  day  eight 
days  they  shall  do  battle  together  afore  you." 

"By  my  head,"  said  King  Arthur,  "I  am  afraid  that 
Sir  Meliagrance  hath  taken  upon  him  a  great  charge. 
But  where  is  Sir  Launcelot  ? "  said  the  king. 

"  Sir,"  said  they  all,  "  we  wit  not  where  he  is,  but  we 
deem  he  is  ridden  to  some  adventures,  as  he  is  oftentimes 
wont  to  do,  for  he  hath  Sir  Lavaine's  horse." 

"Let  hinrbe,"  said  the  king,  "he  will  be  found,  but  if 
he  be  trapped  with  some  treason." 


CHAPTER   XX. 

How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  FOUGHT  SIR  MELIAGRANCE  WITH  ONE  HAND  TIED 

BEHIND,    AND   WITH    HIS    HEAD  AND   SlDE   BARE  OF   ARMOR. 

HYPHEN  as  Sir  Launcelot  lay  in  that  cave  in  great 
L  -L  pain  of  body  and  sore  anxiety  of  mind,  the  damsel 
who  had  been  accustomed  to  bring  him  food  took  pity  on 
him.  So  on  the  day  he  was  to  have  done  battle  with  Sir 
Meliagrance,  she  brought  him  forth,  helped  him  to  arm, 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  351 

and  showed  him  where  were  twelve  good  coursers  in  a 
stable.  Then  Sir  Launcelot  chose  a  white  courser  and 
galloped  forth,  and  came  to  the  lists  right  as  Sir  Lavaine 
had  dressed  him  to  do  battle  in  Sir  Launcelot's  place. 
Then  Sir  Launcelot  drove  at  Sir  Meliagrance,  and  it  was 
but  a  little  ere  he  had  felled  him  to  the  earth  and  had  him 
at  will,  to  slay  or  spare.  Then  Sir  Meliagrance  cried  for 
mercy ;  but  Sir  Launcelot  was  all  in  wrath  for  the  often 
treachery  of  Sir  Meliagrance,  and  so  that  he  might  tempt 
Sir  Meliagrance  to  perform  that  battle  further  Sir  Launce- 
lot made  offer :  "  I  shall  unarm  my  head  and  the  left 
quarter  of  my  body,  and  I  shall  let  bind  my  left  hand 
behind  me  so  that  it  shall  not  help  me,  and  right  so  I  shall 
do  battle  with  you." 

And  thereat  was  Sir  Meliagrance  pleased,  for  he 
thought  to  kill  Sir  Launcelot  without  fail  at  that  disad- 
vantage. So  Sir  Launcelot's  hand  was  tied,  and  his  head 
and  side  were  unarmed,  as  he  had  proffered.] 

Then  Sir  Meliagrance  came  with  his  sword  all  on  high, 
and  Sir  Launcelot  showed  him  openly  his  bare  head  and 
the  bare  left  side ;  and  when  he  wend  to  have  smitten 
him  upon  the  head,  then  lightly  he  avoided  the  left  leg 
and  the  left  side,  and  put  his  right  hand  and  his  sword  to 
that  stroke,  and  so  put  it  one  side  with  great  sleight,  and 
then  with  great  force  Sir  Launcelot  smote  him  on  the 
helmet  such  a  buffet  that  the  stroke  carved  the  head  in 
two  parts.  Then  there  was  no  more  to  do  but  he  was 
drawn  out  of  the  field ;  and  at  the  requests  of  the  knights 
of  the  Round  Table  the  king  suffered  him  to  be  buried, 
and  the  mention  made  upon  him,  and  for  what  cause  he 
was  slain.  And  then  the  king  and  the  queen  made  much 
of  Sir  Launcelot,  and  more  was  he  cherished  than  ever  he 
was  before. 


352  The  Boy's  King  Arihur. 


CHAPTER  XXI.1 

HOW  Si*  UR*E  CAME  UNTO  KlNG  ARTHUR'S  COURT  FOR  TO  BE  HEALED 

OF  HIS  WOUNDS,  [AND   HOW  KING  ARTHUR   AND   MANY   KNIGHTS 
HANDLED  HIM  TILL  THAT  SlR  LAUNCELOT  MADE  HIM  WHOLE.] 

THERE  was  a  good  knight  in  the  land  of  Hungary 
whose  name  was  Sir  Urre,  and  he  was  an  adventur- 
ous knight.  So  it  happened  at  a  great  tournament  in 
Spain  this  Sir  Urre  slew  Sir  Alphegus.  But  this  knight 
that  was  slain  had  given  Sir  Urre  seven  great  wounds, 
three  on  the  head  and  four  on  his  left  side. 

And  this  Sir  Alphegus  had  a  mother,  the  which  was  a 
great  sorceress,  and  she,  for  the  despite  of  her  son's  death, 
wrought  by  her  subtle  crafts  that  Sir  Urre  should  never  be 
whole,  but  ever  his  wounds  should  one  time  fester  and 
another  time  bleed,  until  the  best  knight  of  the  world 
had  searched  his  wounds,  and  thus  she  made  her  avaunt, 
wherethrough  it  was  known  that  Sir  Urre  should  never  be 
whole. 

Then  Sir  Urre's  mother  let  make  an  horse-litter,  and 
put  him  therein  under  two  palfreys ;  and  then  she  took 
Sir  Urre's  sister  with  him,  which  was  a  full  fair  damsel, 
whose  name  was  Feloly,  and  then  she  took  a  page  with 
her  to  keep  their  horses.  And  so  they  led  Sir  Urre 
through  many  countries ;  for  she  led  him  so  seven  years 
through  all  lands  Christian,  and  never  she  could  find  no 
knight  that  might  ease  her  son.  So  at  the  last  she 
came  into  Scotland  and  into  the  bounds  of  England, 

1 1  have  retained  this  account  of  the  searching  of  Sir  Urre's  wounds, 
because  it  brings  forward  the  names  of  all  the  knights  of  the  Round  Table 
together,  and  is  thus  like  the  appearance  of  all  the  characters  on  the  stage  al 
the  dose  of  the  play. 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  353 

and  at  the  feast  of  Pentecost  at  King  Arthur's  court 
that  at  that  time  was  holden  at  Carlisle. 

Then  King  Arthur  let  call  the  lady,  and  asked  her  the 
cause  why  she  had  brought  that  hurt  knight  into  that 
country. 

"My  most  noble  lord  King  Arthur,"  said  that  lady, 
"  wit  ye  well  I  brought  him  hither  for  to  be  healed  of  his 
wounds,  the  which  of  all  these  seven  years  might  not  be 
healed.  And  so  I  have  passed  through  all  the  lands  Chris- 
tian for  to  have  him  healed,  except  this  land,  and  if  that  I 
fail  to  heal  him  here  in  this  country,  I  will  never  take 
more  pain  upon  me ;  and  that  is  pity,  for  he  was  a  full 
good  knight,  and  of  great  nobleness." 

"  What  is  his  name  ? "  said  King  Arthur. 

"My  good  and  gracious  lord,"  said  she,  "his  name  is 
Sir  Urre  of  the  Mount." 

"  In  good  time,"  said  King  Arthur,  "  and  sith  ye  are 
come  hither  into  this  country,  ye  are  welcome." 

And  then  the  king  commanded  all  the  kings,  dukes,  and 
earls,  and  all  noble  knights  of  the  Round  Table  that  were 
there  that  time  present,  to  come  into  the  meadow  of  Car- 
lisle. And  so  at  that  time  there  were  but  an  hundred  and 
ten  of  the  Round  Table,  for  forty  knights  were  that  time 
away.  And  so  here  we  must  begin  at  King  Arthur, 
as  is  kindly  to  begin  at  him  that  was  the  most  man  of 
worship  that  was  christened  at  that  time. 

Then  King  Arthur  looked  upon  Sir  Urre,  and  the  king 
thought  he  was  a  full  likely  man  when  he  was  whole. 
And  King  Arthur  made  him  to  be  taken  down  off  the 
litter,  and  laid  him  upon  the  earth,  and  there  was  laid 
a  cushion  of  gold  that  he  should  kneel  upon.  And  then 
Arthur  said,  "Noble  fair  knight,  me  repenteth  of  thy 
hurt,  and  for  to  courage  all  other  noble  knights  I  will 
pray  thee  softly  to  suffer  me  to  handle  your  wounds." 


354  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"Most  noble  christened  king,"  said  Urre,  "do  as  yc 
list,  for  I  am  at  the  mercy  of  God,  and  at  your  com- 
mand/' 

So  then  King  Arthur  softly  handled  him,  and  then  some 
of  his  woands  renewed  on  bleeding.  Then,  after  King 
Arthur,  King  Clarence  of  Northumberland  searched,  and 
[it  would  not  be  healed] ;  and  then  the  king  with  the 
hundred  knights,  he  assayed  and  failed ;  and  so  did 
King  Uriens  of  the  land  of  Gore ;  so  did  King  Anguish 
of  Ireland ;  so  did  King  Nentres  of  Garloth ;  so  did  King 
Carados  of  Scotland ;  so  did  the  Duke  Galahalt  the  haut 
prince ;  so  did  Constantine,  that  was  King  Carados's  son 
of  Cornwall ;  so  did  Duke  Chalaunce  of  Clarence ;  so  dfd 
the  Earl  Ulbause ;  so  did  the  Earl  Lambaile ;  so  did  the 
Earl  Aristause.  Then  came  in  Sir  Gawaine  with  his  three 
sons,  Sir  Gingaine,  Sir  Florence,  and  Sir  Lovell ;  and  Sir 
Gawaine  and  his  sons  failed.  Then  came  in  Sir  Agravaine, 
Sir  Gaheris,  Sir  Mordred,  and  the  good  knight  Sir  Gareth, 
which  was  of  very  knighthood  worth  all  the  brethren  ;  so 
there  came  knights  of  Sir  Launcelot's  kin,  but  Sir  Launce- 
lot  was  not  that  time  in  the  court,  for  he  was  that  time  on 
his  adventures.  Then  Sir  Lionel,  Sir  Ector  de  Maris,  Sir 
Bors  de  Ganis,  Sir  Blamor  de  Ganis,  Sir  Bleoberis  de  Ganis, 
Sir  Gahalantin,  Sir  Galihodin,  Sir  Manadiuke,  Sir  Villiars 
le  Valiaunt,  Sir  Hebes  le  Renowme,  all  these  knights 
were  of  Sir  Launcelot's  kin,  and  they  failed  every  each 
one.  Then  came  in  Sir  Sagramor  le  Desirous,  Sir 
Dodinas  le  Savage,  Sir  Dinadan,  Sir  Brewnor  le  Noire, 
which  Sir  Kay  called  La  Cote  Mai  Taile,  and  Sir  Kay 
the  seneschal,  Sir  Kay  de  Straangis,  Sir  Meliot  de  Logris, 
and  Sir  Petipace  of  Winchelsea,  Sir  Galleron  of  Galway, 
Sir  Melion  of  the  Mountain,  Sir  Cardoc,  Sir  Uwaine  les 
Avoutres,  and  Sir  Ozanna  le  Cure  Hardy.  Then  there 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  355 

came  in  Sir  Astamore,  and  Sir  Gromore,  Sir  Grummor's 
son,  Sir  Crosselme,  Sir  Servause  le  Breuse,  which  was  at 
that  time  called  one  of  the  strongest  knights  of  the 
world,  for  the  chief  lady  of  the  lake  feasted  this  Sir 
Servause  le  Breuse  and  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  That 
Sir  Servause  had  never  no  lust  nor  courage  to  do  battle 
against  man,  but  if  it  were  against  giants,  and  against 
dragons  and  such  other  wild  beasts.  Then  there  came 
in  Sir  Aglovale,  Sir  Durnore,  and  Sir  Tor  [brothers  to 
Sir  Lamorak].  Then  came  Sir  Griflet  le  Fise  de  Dieu, 
Sir  Lucan  the  Butler,  Sir  Bedivere  his  brother,  Sir 
Brandiles,  Sir  Constantine,  Sir  Cador's  son  of  Cornwall, 
that  was  king  after  Arthur's  days,  and  Sir  Clegis,  Sir 
Sadoc,  Sir  Dinas  le  Seneschal  of  Cornwall,  Sir  Fergus, 
Sir  Driant,  Sir  Lambegus,  Sir  Clarus  of  Cleremont,  Sir 
Clodrus,  Sir  Hectimere,  Sir  Edward  of  Carnarvan,  Sir 
Dinas,  Sir  Priamus,  that  was  christened  by  Sir  Tristram 
the  noble  knight,  and  these  three  were  brethren ;  Sir 
Hellaine  le  Blank,  that  was  son  unto  Sir  Bors,  and  Sir 
Brian  de  Listinoise ;  Sir  Gautere,  Sir  Reynold,  Sir  Gille- 
mere,  were  three  brethren  that  Sir  Launcelot  won  upon  a 
bridge  in  Sir  Kay's  arms.  Sir  Guiart  le  Petite,  Sir  Bel- 
langere  le  Beuse,  that  was  son  to  the  good  knight  Sir 
Alisander  Lorphelin,  that  was  slain  by  the  treason  of 
King  Mark.  Then  came  Sir  Hebes,  Sir  Morganore,  Sir 
Sentraile,  Sir  Suppinabiles,  Sir  Bellangere  le  Orgulous, 
which  the  good  knight  Sir  Launcelot  won  in  plain  battle  ; 
S^r  Neroveus  and  Sir  Plenorius,  two  good  knights  that  Sir 
Launcelot  won ;  Sir  Darras,  Sir  Harry  le  Fise  Lake,  Sir 
Hermenid,  brother  to  King  Hermance,  for  whom  Sir  Pals- 
mides  fought  at  the  Red  City  with  two  brethren ;  and 
Sir  Selises  of  the  Dolorous  Tower,  Sir  Edward  cf 
Orkney,  and  Sir  Ironside,  which  was  called  the  noble 


356  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

knight  of  the  red  lands,  that  Sir  Gareth  won  for  the? 
love  of  dame  Lyonesse ;  Sir  Arrocke  le  Graunt,  Sir 
Degraine  sans  Vilany,  that  fought  with  the  giant  of  the 
black  low  [kill] ;  Sir  Epinogris,  that  was  the  king's  son 
of  Northumberland;  Sir  Pelleas,  which  loved  the  lady 
Ettard,  and  he  had  died  for  her  love  had  not  been  one  of 
the  ladies  of  the  lake,  her  name  was  dame  Nimue,  and  she 
wedded  Sir  Pelleas,  and  she  saved  him  that  he  was  never 
slain,  and  he  was  a  full  noble  knight ;  Sir  Lamiel  of 
Cardiff,  that  was  a  great  lover ;  Sir  Plaine  de  Force,  Sir 
Meleaus  de  Lile,  Sir  Bobart  le  Cure  Hardy,  that  was  King 
Arthur's  son,  Sir  Mador  de  la  Porte,  Sir  Colgrevance,  Sir 
Hervise  de  la  Forest  Savage,  Sir  Marrok,  the  good  knight 
that  was  betrayed  with  his  wife,  for  she  made  him  seven 
year  a  werwolf;  Sir  Persant,  Sir  Pertilope  his  brother, 
that  was  called  the  green  knight,  and  Sir  Perimones, 
brother  to  them  both,  that  was  called  the  red  knight,  that 
Sir  Gareth  won  when  he  was  called  Beaumains.  All  these 
hundred  knights  and  ten  searched  Sir  Urre's  wounds,  by 
the  commandment  of  King  Arthur. 

Then  as  they  stood  and  spoke  of  many  things,  there 
was  espied  Sir  Launcelot  that  came  riding  towards  them. 
So  when  Sir  Launcelot  espied  King  Arthur  he  descended 
from  his  horse,  and  came  to  the  king,  and  saluted  him, 
and  them  all.  Anon  as  the  maid,  Sir  Urre's  sister,  saw 
Sir  Launcelot,  she  ran  to  her  brother  there  as  he  lay  in 
his  litter,  and  said,  "  Brother,  here  is  come  a  knight  that 
my  heart  giveth  greatly  unto." 

"  Fair  sister,"  said  Sir  Urre,  "  so  doth  my  heart  light 
against  him,  and  certainly  I  hope  now  to  be  healed,  for  my 
heart  giveth  unto  him  more  than  to  all  these  that  have 
searched  me." 

Then  said  King  Arthur  unto  Sir  Launcelot,  "  Ye  must 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  357 

do  as  we  have  done ; "  and  told  Sir  Launcelot  what  they 
had  done,  and  showed  him  all  those  that  had  searched  Sir 
Urre. 

"  Jesu  defend  me ! "  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  when  so  many 
kings  and  knights  have  assayed  and  failed,  that  I  should 
presume  upon  me  for  to  achieve  that  all  ye,  my  lords, 
might  not  achieve." 

"Ye  shall  not  choose/'  said  King  Arthur,  "for  I  will 
command  you  for  to  do  as  we  all  have  done." 

"My  most  renowned  lord,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "ye 
know  well  that  I  dare  not  nor  may  not  disobey  your 
commandment.  But  and  I  might  or  durst,  wit  ye  well  I 
would  not  take  it  upon  me  to  touch  that  wounded  knight, 
to  that  intent  that  I  should  pass  all  other  knights ;  Jesu 
defend  me  from  that  shame." 

"  Ye  take  it  wrong,"  said  King  Arthur,  "  ye  shall  not 
do  it  for  no  presumption,  but  for  to  bear  us  fellowship 
inasmuch  as  ye  be  a  fellow  of  the  Round  Table." 

And  then  all  the  kings  and  knights  for  the  most  part 
prayed  Sir  Launcelot  to  search  him.  And  then  the 
wounded  knight  Sir  Urre  set  himself  up  full  weakly,  and 
prayed  Sir  Launcelot  heartily,  saying  thus,  "  Courteous 
knight,  I  require  thee  for  God's  sake  heal  my  wounds,  for 
me  thinketh  ever  sithence  \since\  ye  came  here  my  wounds 
grieve  me  not." 

"  My  fair  lord,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  Jesus  would  that  I 
might  help  you,  and  I  shame  me  sore  that  I  should  be 
thus  rebuked ;  for  never  was  I  able  in  worthiness  to  do 
so  high  a  thing." 

Ther  Sir  Launcelot  kneeled  down  by  the  wounded 
knight,  saying  to  him  thus,  "My  lord  King  Arthur,  I 
must  needs  do  your  commandment,  which  is  full  sore 
against  my  heart." 


358  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

And  then  he  held  up  his  hand,  and  looked  into  the  east, 
saying  secretly  to  himself,  "  Thou  blessed  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Ghost,  I  beseech  of  thy  mercy  that  my  simple  wor- 
ship and  honesty  be  saved,  and  thou,  blessed  Trinity, 
thou  mayest  give  power  to  heal  this  sick  knight  by  the 
great  virtue  and  grace  of  thee,  but,  good  Lord,  never  of 
myself." 

And  then  Sir  Launcelot  prayed  Sir  Urre  for  to  let  him 
see  his  head.  And  then  devoutly  kneeling,  he  ransacked 
the  three  wounds,  that  they  bled  a  little,  and  forthwith  all 
the  wounds  fair  healed,  and  seemed  as  they  had  been  whole 
a  seven  year.  And  in  likewise  he  searched  his  body  of 
other  three  wounds,  and  they  healed  in  likewise.  And 
then  the  last  of  all  he  searched  the  which  was  in  his 
hand,  and,  anon,  it  healed  fair.  Then  King  Arthur,  and 
all  the  kings  and  knights,  kneeled  down,  and  gave  thanks 
and  lovings  unto  God  and  to  his  blessed  mother,  and  ever 
Sir  Launcelot  wept  as  he  had  been  a  child  that  had  been 
beaten. 

Then  King  Arthur  asked  Sir  Urre  how  he  felt  himself. 

"  My  good  lord,"  said  he,  "  I  felt  myself  never  so 
lusty." 

"Will  ye  joust  and  do  deeds  of  arms?"  said  King 
Arthur. 

"  Sir,"  said  Sir  Urre,  "  and  [if]  I  had  all  that  belonged 
to  jousts  I  would  soon  be  ready." 

Then  King  Arthur  made  a  party  of  an  hundred  knights 
to  be  against  an  hundred  knights.  And  so,  upon  the 
morn,  they  jousted  for  a  diamond ;  and  Sir  Urre  and  Sir 
Lavaine  jousted  best  that  day,  for  there  was  none  of  them 
but  he  overthrew  and  pulled  down  thirty  knights ;  and 
then,  by  the  assent  of  all  the  kings  and  lords,  Sir  Urre 
and  Sir  Lavaine  were  made  knights  of  the  Table  Round 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  359 

And  Sir  Lavaine  cast  his  love  to  dame  Feloly,  Sir  Urre's 
sister,  and  then  they  were  wedded  together  with  great 
joy,  and  King  Arthur  gave  to  every  each  of  them  a  barony 
of  lands.  And  this  Sir  Urre  would  never  go  from  Sir 
Launcelot,  but  he,  and  Sir  Lavaine,  awaited  evermore 
upon  him  ;  and  they  were  in  all  the  court  accounted  for 
good  knights,  and  full  desirous  in  arms ;  and  many  noble 
deeds  they  did,  for  they  would  have  no  rest,  but  ever 
sought  adventures. 

[And  Sir  Launcelot,  so  that  he  might  put  to  shame 
those  that  had  mocked  him  with  the  name  of  the 
Chevalier  du  Chariot  \knight  of  the  cart\  would  not  ride 
on  horseback  for  twelve  months  but  in  all  that  time  went 
upon  his  adventures  in  a  cart  like  as  the  other  and  did 
great  feats  of  hardihood  therein,  altogether  more  than 
forty  battles.] 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

[How  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AGAIN  RESCUED  QUEEN  GUENEVER  FROM  THB 
FlRE,  AND  CARRIED  HER  AWAY,  AND  OF  THE  WARS  BETWIXT  HIM 
AND  KING  ARTHUR.] 


mUT  ever  in  these  days  the  enemies  of  Sir  Launcelot 
and  of  Queen  Guenever  lay  in  wait  to  do  them 
harm,  in  especial  Sir  Mordred  and  Sir  Agravaine.  So  it 
befell  that  the  queen  was  again  appealed  of  treason  and 
was  condemned  to  the  fire,  while  Sir  Launcelot  was  away. 
But  when  Sir  Launcelot  heard  thereof,  he  came  suddenly 
with  his  kindred  and  attacked  them  that  guarded  about 
the  queen  whereas  she  stood  at  the  stake  about  to  be 
burnt.] 

Then  was  there  spurring  and  plucking  up  of  horses 


360  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

and  right  so  they  came  to  the  fire,  and  who  that  stood 
against  them  there  they  were  slain,  there  might  none 
withstand  Sir  Launcelot.  And  in  this  rashing  and  hurl- 
ing, as  Sir  Launcelot  thrang  [rushed]  here  and  there,  it 
mishappened  him  to  slay  Sir  Gaheris  and  the  noble  knight 
Sir  Gareth,  for  they  were  unarmed  and  unaware ;  for  Sir 
Launcelot  smote  Sir  Gareth  and  Sir  Gaheris  upon  the 
brain-pans,  wherethrough  they  were  both  slain  in  the 
field;  howbeit  in  very  truth  Sir  Launcelot  saw  them  not, 
and  so  were  they  found  dead  among  the  thickest  of  the 
press.  Then  when  Sir  Launcelot  had  thus  done,  and  had 
put  them  to  flight  all  they  that  would  withstand  him,  then 
he  rode  straight  unto  Queen  Guenever,  and  made  a  kirtle 
and  a  gown  to  be  cast  upon  her,  and  then  he  made  her  to 
be  set  behind  him,  and  prayed  her  to  be  of  good  cheer. 
Wit  you  well  that  the  queen  was  glad  when  she  escaped 
from  death ;  and  then  she  thanked  God  and  Sir  Launcelot. 
And  so  he  rode  his  way  with  the  queen  unto  Joyous  Gard, 
and  there  he  kept  her  as  a  noble  knight  should  do,  and 
many  great  lords  and  some  kings  sent  Sir  Launcelot 
many  good  knights ;  and  many  noble  knights  drew  unto 
Sir  Launcelot.  When  this  was  known  openly,  that  King 
Arthur  and  Sir  Launcelot  were  at  debate,  many  knights 
were  glad  of  their  debate,  and  many  knights  were  sorry 
of  their  debate. 

[Then  King  Arthur  made  moan  out  of  measure,  for  he 
knew  that  the  Round  Table  was  foredoomed  and  that 
great  wars  must  come  of  these  matters.] 

"  And  now  I  dare  say,"  said  the  king,  "  that  there  was 
never  Christian  king  that  held  such  a  fellowship  together 
Alas !  that  ever  Sir  Launcelot  and  I  should  be  at  debate. 
Ah!  Agravaine,  Agravaine,"  said  the  king,  "Jesu  forgive 
it  thy  soul !  for  thine  evil  will  that  thou  and  thy  brother 


Queen  Guenever's  Peril. 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  361 

Sir  Mordred  had  unto  Sir  Launcelot  hath  caused  all  this 
sorrow.'* 

And  ever  among  these  complaints  King  Arthur  wept 
and  swooned.  Then  there  came  one  unto  Sir  Gawaine, 
and  told  him  how  the  queen  was  led  away  with  Sir 
Launcelot,  and  nigh  twenty-four  knights  slain. 

"Truly,"  said  the  man,  "your  two  brethren,  Sir  Gareth 
and  Sir  Gaheris,  be  slain." 

"  Who  slew  [them]  ? "  said  Sir  Gawaine. 

"  Sir,"  said  the  man,  "  Sir  Launcelot  slew  them  both." 

"  Alas  !  "  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "  now  is  all  my  joy  gone." 

And  then  he  fell  down  in  a  swoon,  and  long  he  lay 
there  as  he  had  been  dead ;  and  then  when  he  arose  out 
of  his  swoon,  he  cried  out  so  ruefully,  and  said,  "  Alas ! " 
And  right  so  Sir  Gawaine  ran  unto  the  king,  crying  and 
weeping :  "  Oh !  King  Arthur  mine  uncle,  my  good 
brother  Sir  Gaheris  is  slain,  and  my  brother  Sir  Gareth 
also,  the  which  were  two  noble  knights." 

"  I  know  not  how  it  was,"  said  the  king,  "but  so  it  is 
said,  Sir  Launcelot  slew  them  both  in  the  thickest  of  the 
press,  and  knew  them  not." 

[Then  fell  Sir  Gawaine  into  bitter  hatred  against  Sir 
Launcelot  and  never  stinted  therein  till  the  day  of  his 
death.] 

"My  most  gracious  lord  and  my  uncle,"  said  Sir 
Gawaine,  "wit  you  well  that  now  I  shall  make  you  a 
promise,  the  which  I  shall  hold  by  my  knighthood,  that 
from  this  day  I  shall  never  fail  Sir  Launcelot,  until  the 
one  of  us  hath  slain  the  other;  and  therefore  I  require 
you,  my  lord  and  my  king,  dress  you  unto  the  war,  for  wit 
you  well  I  shall  be  revenged  upon  Sir  Launcelot.  For  I 
promise  unto  God,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "for  the  death  of 
my  brother  Sir  Gareth  I  shall  seek  Sir  Launcelot  through- 


362  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

out  seven  kings'  realms  but  I  shall  slay  him,  or  else  he 
shall  slay  me." 

"  Ye  shall  not  need  to  seek  him  so  far,"  said  the  king, 
"  for,  as  I  hear  say,  Sir  Launcelot  will  abide  me  and  you 
in  the  Joyous  Gard,  and  much  people  draweth  unto  him  as 
I  hear  say." 

Then  came  King  Arthur  and  Sir  Gawaine  with  an  huge 
host,  and  laid  a  siege  about  Joyous  Gard,  both  at  the 
town  and  at  the  castle ;  and  there  they  made  full  strong 
war  on  both  parties.  But  in  no  wise  Sir  Launcelot  would 
not  ride  out  nor  go  out  of  the  castle  of  a  long  time,  neither 
he  would  suffer  none  of  his  good  knights  to  issue  out, 
neither  none  of  the  town  nor  of  the  castle,  until  fifteen 
weeks  were  past. 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

OF  THE  COMMUNICATION  BETWEEN  KING  ARTHUR  AND  SIR  LAUNCELOT 
AND  HOW  KING  ARTHUR  REPROVED  HIM. 

SO  it  befell  on  a  day  in  harvest  that  Sir  Launcelot 
looked  over  the  walls  and  spake  on  high  to  King 
Arthur  and  Sir  Gawaine :  "  My  lords  both,  wit  ye  well  it 
is  in  vain  that  ye  labor  at  this  siege,  for  here  win  ye  no 
worship  but  dishonor." 

"Come  forth,"  said  King  Arthur  unto  Sir  Launcelct, 
"  and  thou  darest,  and  I  promise  thee  I  shall  meet  thee 
in  the  midst  of  the  field." 

"God  defend  me,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "that  ever  I 
should  encounter  with  the  most  noble  king  that  made 
me  knight." 

"  Fie  upon  thy  fair  language,"  said  the  king,  "  for  wit 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  363 

you  well,  and  trust  it,  I  am  thy  mortal  foe,  and  ever  will 
to  my  death  day,  for  thou  hast  slain  my  good  knights  and 
full  noble  men  of  my  blood,  that  I  shall  never  recover 
again :  also  thou  hast  dishonored  my  queen,  and  holden 
her  many  winters,  and  like  a  traitor  taken  her  from  me  by 
force." 

"My  most  noble  lord  and  king/'  said  Sir  Launcelot, 
"  ye  may  say  what  ye  will,  for  ye  wot  well  with  yourself  I 
will  not  strive,  but  there  as  ye  say  I  have  slain  your  good 
knights,  I  wot  well  that  I  have  done  so,  and  that  me  sore 
repenteth,  but  I  was  enforced  to  do  battle  with  them,  in 
saving  of  my  life,  or  else  I  must  have  suffered  them  to 
have  slain  me.  And  as  for  my  lady  Queen  Guenever,  oft- 
times,  my  lord,  ye  have  consented  that  she  should  be 
burnt  and  destroyed  in  your  heat,  and  then  it  fortuned  me 
to  do  battle  for  her,  and  or  I  departed  from  her  adversary 
they  confessed  their  untruth,  and  she  full  worshipfully 
excused.  And  at  such  times,  my  lord  Arthur,"  said  Sir 
Launcelot,  "ye  loved  me,  and  thanked  me  when  I  saved 
your  queen  from  the  fire,  and  then  ye  promised  me  for 
ever  to  be  my  good  lord,  and  now  me  thinketh  ye  reward 
me  full  ill.  For  sithence  I  have  done  battles  for  your 
queen  in  other  quarrels  than  in  mine  own,  me  seemeth 
now  I  had  more  right  to  do  battle  for  her  in  a  right  quarrel. 
And  therefore  my  good  and  gracious  lord,"  said  Sir  Launce 
lot,  "  take  your  queen  unto  your  good  grace,  for  she  is  both 
fair,  true,  and  good." 

"  Fie  on  thee,  false  recreant  knight,"  said  Sir  Gawaine, 
"  I  let  thee  to  wit  that  my  lord  mine  uncle  King  Arthur 
shall  have  his  queen  and  thee  maugre  [in  spite  of}  thy 
visage,  and  slay  you  both  whereas  it  shall  please  him." 

"  It  may  well  be,"  said  Sir  Launcelot ;  "  but  wit  ye  well, 
my  lord  Sir  Gawaine,  and  me  list  to  come  out  of  this 


364  The  Bofs  King  Arthur. 

castle,  ye  should  win  me  and  the  queen  more  harder  thar 
ever  ye  won  a  strong  battle." 

"  Fie  upon  thy  proud  words,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "  as  for 
my  lady  the  queen,  I  will  never  say  of  her  shame.  Ah ! 
thou  false  recreant  knight,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "what 
cause  hadst  thou  to  slay  my  good  brother  Sir  Gareth,  that 
loved  thee  more  than  all  thy  kin  ?  Alas !  thou  madest 
him  knight  with  thine  own  hands,  why  slewest  thou  him 
that  loved  thee  so  well  ? " 

"  For  to  excuse  me,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  it  helpeth  me 
not.  But,  by  Jesu,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  and  by  the  faith 
that  I  owe  unto  the  high  order  of  knighthood,  I  should 
with  as  good  a  will  have  slain  my  nephew  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis 
at  that  time.  But  alas !  that  ever  I  was  so  unhappy,"  said 
Sir  Launcelot,  "  that  I  had  not  seen  Sir  Gareth  and  Sir 
Gaheris." 

"Thou  liest,  false  recreant  knight,"  said  Sir  Gawaine, 
'  thou  slewest  him  in  despite  of  me,  and  therefore  wit 
thou  well  that  I  shall  make  war  unto  thee  all  the  while 
that  I  may  live." 

"That  me  sore  repenteth,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "for 
well  I  understand  that  it  helpeth  me  not  to  seek  for 
none  accordment  whiles  that  ye,  Sir  Gawaine,  are  so  mis- 
chievously set ;  and  if  ye  were  not,  I  would  not  doubt  to 
have  the  good  grace  of  my  lord  King  Arthur." 

[Then  Sir  Launcelot's  kinsmen  besought  him  that  he 
would  go  out  and  do  battle  for  the  slanders  that  Sir 
Gawaine  and  his  knights  did  put  upon  him.] 

"  Alas ! "  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  for  to  ride  out  of  this 
castle  and  do  battle,  I  am  full  loth  to  do  it." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  spake  on  high  unto  King  Arthur 
and  Sir  Gawaine :  "  My  lords,  I  require  you  and  beseech 
you,  sith  I  am  thus  required  and  conjured  to  ride  into  the 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  365 

field,  that  neither  you,  my  lord  King  Arthur,  nor  you,  Sii 
Gawaine,  come  not  into  the  field." 

"  What  shall  we  do  then  ? "  said  Sir  Gawaine ;  "  is  not 
this  the  king's  quarrel  with  thee  to  fight  ?  and  it  is  my 
quarrel  to  fight  with  thee,  Sir  Launcelot,  because  of  the 
death  of  my  brother  Sir  Gareth." 

"  Then  must  I  needs  unto  battle,"  said  Sir  Launcelot. 

And  always  Sir  Launcelot  charged  all  his  knights  in 
any  wise  to  save  King  Arthur  and  Sir  Gawaine. 

And  on  the  morrow  at  underne  [nine  o'clock}  King 
Arthur  was  ready  in  the  field  with  three  great  hosts. 
And  then  Sir  Launcelot's  fellowship  came  out  at  three 
gates  in  full  good  array,  and  Sir  Lionel  came  in  the  fore- 
most battle,  and  Sir  Launcelot  came  in  the  middle  battle, 
and  Sir  Bors  came  out  at  the  third  gate. 

[Then  was  there  spurring  and  thrusting  and  many 
strokes.] 

And  ever  King  Arthur  was  nigh  about  Sir  Launcelot 
to  have  slain  him,  and  Sir  Launcelot  suffered  him,  and 
would  not  strike  again.  So  Sir  Bors  encountered  with 
King  Arthur,  and  there  with  a  spear  Sir  Bors  smote  him 
down  ;  and  so  he  alighted  and  drew  his  sword,  and  said  to 
Sir  Launcelot,  "  Shall  I  make  an  end  of  this  war  ? "  and 
that  he  meant  to  have  slain  King  Arthur. 

"  Not  so  hardy,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  upon  pain  of  thy 
head,  that  thou  touch  him  no  more :  for  I  will  never  see 
that  most  noble  king,  that  made  me  knight,  neither  slain 
ne  shamed." 

And  therewithal  Sir  Launcelot  alighted  off  his  horse, 
and  took  up  the  king  and  horsed  him  again,  and  said  thus, 
"My  lord  Arthur,  for  God's  love  stint  this  strife." 

And  when  King  Arthur  was  again  on  horseback,  he 
looked  upon  Sir  Launcelot,  and  then  the  tears  burst  out 


366  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

of  his  eyes  thinking  on  the  great  courtesy  that  was  in  Sir 
Launcelot  more  than  in  any  other  man.  And  therewith 
the  king  rode  forth  his  way,  and  might  no  longer  behold 
him,  and  said  to  himself,  "  Alas !  that  ever  this  war 
began."  And  then  either  parties  of  the  battles  with- 
drew them  for  to  rest  them,  and  buried  the  dead  bodies, 
and  to  the  wounded  men  they  laid  soft  salves ;  and  thus 
they  endured  that  night  till  on  the  morrow.  And  on  the 
morrow,  by  underne,  they  made  them  ready  to  do  battle, 
and  then  Sir  Bors  led  them  forward.  So  on  the  morrow 
came  Sir  Gawaine  as  grim  as  any  bear,  with  a  spear  in  his 
hand.  And  when  Sir  Bors  saw  him  [they  rode  furiously 
together  and  either  gave  the  other  a  great  wound].  Then 
Sir  Launcelot  rescued  Sir  Bors,  and  sent  him  into  the 
castle;  but  neither  Sir  Gawaine  nor  Sir  Bors  died  not 
of  their  wounds,  for  they  were  both  holpen. 

"  Alas  ! "  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  I  have  no  heart  to  fight 
against  my  lord  King  Arthur ;  for  always  me  seemeth  I 
do  not  as  I  ought  to  do." 

"  My  lord,"  said  Sir  Palamides,  "  though  ye  spare  them 
all  this  day,  they  will  never  con  you  thank ;  and  if  they 
may  get  you  at  any  vantage,  ye  are  but  dead." 

So  then  Sir  Launcelot  understood  well  that  they  told 
him  truth,  and  then  he  strained  himself  more.  And  then 
within  a  little  while,  by  even-song  time,  Sir  Launcelot  and 
his  party  better  stood,  for  their  horses  went  in  blood  past 
the  fetlocks,  there  was  so  much  people  slain.  And  then, 
for  pity,  Sir  Launcelot  withheld  his  knights,  and  suffered 
King  Arthur's  party  for  to  withdraw  them  one  side.  And 
then  Sir  Launcelot's  party  withdrew  them  into  his  castle, 
and  either  party  buried  the  dead  bodies  and  put  salve  unto 
the  wounded  men.  So  when  Sir  Gawaine  was  hurt,  they 
on  King  Arthur's  party  were  not  so  orgulous  \arrogantly 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  367 

tager\  as  they  were  beforehand  to  do  battle.  Of  this  war 
was  noised  through  all  Christendom,  and  at  the  last  it  was 
noised  afore  the  Pope  ;  and  he  considering  the  great  good- 
ness of  King  Arthur  [let  send  letters  to  Sir  Launcelot 
how  that  he  should  bring  the  queen  back  to  King  Arthur. 
And  so,  when  King  Arthur  had  carried  his  host  back  to 
his  own  country,  came  Sir  Launcelot  to  King  Arthur's 
court  and  gave  him  again  his  queen]. 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 
How  KING  ARTHUR  AND  SIR  GAWAINE  MADE  A  GREAT   HOST  READY 

TO  GO  OVER  SEA  TO  MAKE  WAR  ON   SlR  LAUNCELOT, 

F  A  ND  then  while  Sir  Launcelot  was  at  court  he  strove 
L  ±*-  hard  to  be  accorded  with  Sir  Gawaine,  for  he  bore 
no  malice  neither  to  Sir  Gawaine  nor  to  King.  Arthur. 
But  Sir  Gawaine  would  not  be  accorded,  and  ever  let 
King  Arthur  from  being  accorded,  that  would  right  gladly 
have  received  again  his  old  faithful  knight,  Sir  Launcelot. 
And  ever  more  bitter  grew  Sir  Gawaine :  till  at  the  last 
he  said  to  Sir  Launcelot :]  "  In  this  land  thou  shalt  not 
abide  past  fifteen  days,  such  warning  I  give  thee.  So  the 
king  and  we  were  consented  and  accorded  or  thou  earnest 
hither ;  and  else,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "  wit  thou  well  that 
thou  shouldst  not  have  come  hither,  but  if  it  were  maugre 
thy  head.  And  if  that  it  were  not  for  the  Pope's  com- 
mandment, I  should  do  battle  with  my  body  against  thy 
body,  and  prove  it  unto  thee  that  thou  hast  been  false  unto 
mine  uncle  King  Arthur  and  to  me  both,  and  that  shall 
I  prove  upon  thy  body  when  thou  art  departed  from 
hence,  wheresoever  I  find  thee." 


368  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  sighed,  and  therewith  the  tears  fell 
on  his  cheeks,  and  then  he  said  these  words  :  "  Alas  !  most 
noble  Christian  realm,  whom  I  have  loved  above  all  other 
realms,  and  in  thee  have  I  gotten  a  great  part  of  my 
worship,  and  now  I  shall  depart  in  this  wise.  Truly  me 
repenteth  that  ever  I  came  into  this  realm,  that  should 
be  thus  shamefully  banished  undeserved  and  causeless. 
But  fortune  is  so  variable  and  the  wheel  so  mutable, 
there  is  no  constant  abiding,  and  that  may  be  proved  by 
many  old  chronicles  of  noble  Hector,  and  Troilus,  and 
Alisander  the  mighty  conqueror,  and  many  other  moe 
[more] ;  when  they  were  most  in  their  royalty,  they 
alighted  lowest.  And  so  fareth  by  me,"  said  Sir 
Launcelot,  "for  in  this  realm  I  have  had  worship,  and 
by  me  and  mine  all  the  whole  Round  Table  hath  been 
increased,  more  in  worship  by  me  and  my  blood  than  by 
any  other.  And  therefore  wit  you  well,  Sir  Gawaine,  I 
may  live  as  well  upon  my  lands  as  any  knight  that  is 
here.  And  if  ye,  my  most  renowned  king,  will  come 
upon  my  lands  with  your  nephew  Sir  Gawaine  for  to 
war  upon  me,  I  must  endure  you  as  well  as  I  may ; 
but  as  for  you  Sir  Gawaine,  if  that  ye  come  there,  I 
pray  you  charge  me  not  with  treason  nor  felony,  for,  and 
ye  do,  I  must  answer  you." 

"  Do  thou  thy  best,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "  therefore  hie 
thee  fast  that  thou  were  gone,  and  wit  thou  well  we  shall 
soon  come  afte%  and  break  the  strongest  castle  that  thou 
hast  upon  thy  head." 

"That  shall  not  need,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "for  and 
I  were  as  orgulous  set  as  ye  are,  wit  ye  well  I  should 
meet  with  you  in  midst  of  the  field." 

"  Make  thou  no  more  language,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "  but 
deliver  the  queen  from  thee,  and  pike  thee  lightly  out  of 
this  court" 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  369 

And  theu  Sir  Launcelot  said  unto  Queen  Guenever,  in 
hearing  of  the  king  and  them  all,  "  Madam,  now  I  must 
depart  from  you  and  this  noble  fellowship  forever;  and 
sithen  it  is  so,  I  beseech  you  to  pray  for  me,  and  say  me 
well,  and  if  ye  be  hard  bestead  by  any  false  tongues, 
aghtly,  my  lady,  let  send  me  word,  and  if  any  knight's 
hands  may  deliver  you  by  battle,  I  shall  deliver  you." 

And  therewithal  Sir  Launcelot  kissed  the  queen,  and 
then  he  said  all  openly,  "  Now  let  see  what  he  be  in  this 
place,  that  dare  say  the  queen  is  not  true  unto  my  lord 
Arthur  :  let  see  who  will  speak,  and  he  dare  speak." 

And  therewith  he  brought  the  queen  to  the  king,  anH 
then  Sir  Launcelot  took  his  leave  and  departed ;  and 
there  was  neither  king,  duke  ne  earl,  baron  ne  knight, 
lady  nor  gentlewoman,  but  all  they  wept  as  people  out  of 
their  mind,  except  Sir  Gawaine;  and  when  the  noble  Sir 
Launcelot  took  his  horse,  to  ride  out  of  Carlisle,  there  was 
sobbing  and  weeping  for  pure  dole  of  his  departing ;  and 
so  he  took  his  way  unto  Joyous  Gard.  And  afterwards 
he  called  it  Dolorous  Gard.  And  thus  Sir  Launcelot  de- 
parted from  the  court  forever. 

So  leave  we  Sir  Launcelot  in  his  lands,  and  his  noble 
knights  with  him,  and  return  we  again  unto  King  Arthur 
and  Sir  Gawaine,  that  made  a  great  host  ready,  to  the 
number  of  threescore  thousand,  and  all  thing  was  ready 
for  their  shipping  to  pass  over  the  sea.  And  so  they 
shipped  at  Cardiff.  And  there  King  Arthur  made  Sir 
Mordred  chief  ruler  of  all  England ;  and  also  he  put 
Queen  Guenever  under  his  governance.  And  so  King 
Arthur  passed  over  the  sea,  and  landed  upon  Sir  Launce- 
lot's  land,  and  there  he  burnt  and  wasted,  through  the 
vengeance  of  Sir  Gawaine,  all  that  they  might  overrun. 

Then   spake   King  Bagdemagus   unto   Sir   Launcelot 


3/o  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

"  Sir,  your  courtesy  will  shend  [ruin]  us  all,  and  your 
courtesy  hath  caused  all  this  sorrow ;  for  and  they  thus 
override  our  lands,  they  shall  by  process  of  time  bring  us 
all  to  nought,  whilst  we  thus  hide  us  in  holes." 

Then  said  the  good  knight  Sir  Galihud  to  Sir  Launcelot, 
"  Sir,  here  be  knights  come  of  kings'  blood,  that  will  not 
long  droop  and  they  were  without  the  walls ;  therefore 
give  us  leave,  as  we  are  knights,  to  meet  them  in  the  field, 
and  we  shall  slay  them,  that  they  shall  curse  the  time  that 
ever  they  came  into  this  country." 

Then  spake  the  seven  brethren  of  North  Wales,  and 
they  were  seven  noble  knights  as  a  man  might  seek  in 
seven  kings'  lands,  or  he  might  find  such  seven  knights, 
then  they  spake  all  with  one  voice,  "  Sir  Launcelot,  for 
Christ's  sake  let  us  ride  out  with  Sir  Gaiihud,  for  we  been 
never  wont  to  cower  in  castles  nor  in  towns." 

Then  spake  Sir  Launcelot,  which  was  master  and  gov- 
ernor of  them  all,  "  My  fair  lords,  howbeit  we  will  as  at  this 
time  keep  our  strong  walls,  and  I  shall  send  a  messenger 
unto  my  lord  King  Arthur,  desiring  him  to  take  a  treaty ; 
for  better  is  peace  than  always  war." 

So  Sir  Launcelot  sent  forth  a  damsel  and  a  dwarf  with 
her,  requiring  King  Arthur  to  leave  his  war  upon  his 
lands.  And  so  she  started  upon  a  palfrey,  and  the  dwarf 
ran  by  her  side. 

[But  Sir  Gawaine  would  have  no  peace  nor  treaties,  and 
sent  vile  messages  back  to  Sir  Launcelot,  and  presently 
led  the  host  to  Sir  Launcelot's  castle.] 

So  thus  they  endured  well  half  a  year,  and  much 
slaughter  of  people  there  was  on  both  parties.  Then 
it  befell  upon  a  day  that  Sir  Gawaine  came  before  the 
gates  armed  at  all  pieces  upon  a  great  courser,  with  a 
great  spear  in  his  hand ;  and  then  he  cried  with  a  loud 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  371 

voice,  "Where  art  thou  now,  thou  false  traitor  Sii 
Launcelot  ?  why  dost  thou  hide  thyself  within  holes  and 
walls  like  a  coward?  look  out  now,  thou  false  traitor 
knight,  and  here  I  shall  revenge  upon  thy  body  the  death 
of  my  three  brethren." 

All  this  language  heard  Sir  Launcelot,  and  his  kin 
every  deal ;  and  then  his  knights  drew  about  him,  and 
they  said  all  at  once  unto  Sir  Launcelot,  "  Sir  Launcelot, 
now  ye  must  defend  you  like  a  knight,  or  else  ye  be 
shamed  forever ;  for  now  ye  be  called  upon  treason,  it  is 
time  for  you  to  stir,  for  ye  have  slept  over  long,  and  suf- 
fered over  much." 

"So  God  me  help,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "I  am  right 
heavy  of  Sir  Gawaine's  words,  for  now  he  chargeth  me 
with  a  great  charge;  and  therefore  I  wot  it  as  well  as 
ye  that  I  must  defend  me,  or  else  to  be  a  recreant 
knight." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  commanded  to  saddle  his  strongest 
horse,  and  bade  fetch  his  armor,  and  bring  all  unto  the 
gate  of  the  tower.  And  then  Sir  Launcelot  spake  on 
high  unto  King  Arthur,  and  said,  "My  lord  and  noble 
king  which  made  me  knight,  wit  you  well  that  I  am  right 
heavy  for  your  sake,  that  ye  thus  sue  upon  me,  and  always 
I  forbare  you ;  for,  and  I  would  have  been  revengeable,  I 
might  have  met  you  in  the  midst  of  the  field,  and  there  to 
have  made  your  boldest  knights  full  tame ;  and  now  I 
have  forborne  you  half  a  year,  and  have  suffered  you  and 
Sir  Gawaine  to  do  what  ye  would,  and  now  I  may  endure 
it  no  longer ;  now  must  I  needs  defend  myself,  in  so  much 
as  Sir  Gawaine  hath  appealed  me  of  treason,  the  which  is 
greatly  against  my  will,  that  ever  I  should  fight  against 
any  of  your  blood ;  but  now  I  may  not  forsake  it,  I  am 
driven  thereto  as  a  beast  to  a  bay." 


372  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

And  so  the  covenant  was  made,  there  should  no  man 
nigh  them,  nor  deal  with  them,  till  the  one  were  dead  or 
yielden. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

How  SIR  GAWAINE  AND  SIR  LAUNCELOT  DID  BATTLE  TOGETHER,  AND 
HOW  SIR  GAWAINE  WAS  OVERTHROWN  AND  HURT. 

THEN  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir  Launcelot  departed  a 
great  way  in  sunder,  and  then  they  came  together 
with  all  their  horses'  might  as  they  might  run,  and  either 
smote  other  in  midst  of  their  shields,  but  the  knights 
were  so  strong,  and  their  spears  so  big,  that  their  horses 
might  not  endure  their  buffets,  and  so  the  horses  fell  to 
the  earth.  And  then  they  avoided  their  horses,  and 
dressed  their  shields  afore  them.  Then  they  stood  to- 
gether, and  gave  many  sad  strokes  on  divers  places  of 
their  bodies,  that  the  blood  brast  out  on  many  sides  and 
places.  Then  had  Sir  Gawaine  such  a  grace  and  gift  that 
an  holy  man  had  given  to  him,  that  every  day  in  the  year, 
from  underne  till  high  noon,  his  might  increased  those 
three  hours  as  much  as  thrice  his  strength,  and  that 
caused  Sir  Gawaine  to  win  great  honor.  [And]  there 
were  but  few  knights  that  time  living  that  knew  this 
advantage  that  Sir  Gawaine  had,  but  King  Arthur  all 
only.  Thus  Sir  Launcelot  fought  with  Sir  Gawaine,  and 
when  Sir  Launcelot  felt  his  might  evermore  increase,  Sir 
Launcelot  wondered,  and  dread  him  sore  to  be  shamed. 
For  Sir  Launcelot  wend,  when  he  felt  Sir  Gawaine  double 
his  strength,  that  he  had  been  a  fiend  and  no  earthly  man, 
wherefore  Sir  Launcelot  traced  and  traversed,  and  covered 
himself  with  his  shield,  and  kept  his  might  during  thre* 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  373 

hours :  and  that  while  Sir  Gawaine  gave  him  many  sad 
brunts  and  many  sad  strokes,  that  all  the  knights  that 
beheld  Sir  Launcelot  marvelled  how  he  might  endure 
him,  but  full  little  understood  they  that  travail  that  Sir 
Launcelot  had  for  to  endure  him.  And  then  when  it 
was  past  noon,  Sir  Gawaine  had  no  more  but  his  own 
might.  Then  Sir  Launcelot  felt  him  so  come  down ;  then 
he  stretched  him  up,  and  stood  near  Sir  Gawaine,  and  said 
thus,  "  My  lord  Sir  Gawaine,  now  I  feel  ye  have  done,  now 
my  lord  Sir  Gawaine,  I  must  do  my  part,  for  many  great 
and  grievous  strokes  I  have  endured  you  this  day  with 
great  pain." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  doubled  his  strokes,  and  gave  Sir 
Gawaine  such  a  buffet  on  the  helmet,  that  he  fell  down  on 
his  side,  and  Sir  Launcelot  withdrew  him  from  him. 

"  Why  withdrawest  thou  thee  ? "  said  Sir  Gawaine ; 
"  now  turn  again,  false  traitor  knight,  and  slay  me ;  for 
and  thou  leave  me  thus,  when  I  am  whole  I  shall  do  battle 
with  thee  again." 

"  Sir,  I  shall  endure  you  by  the  grace  of  God,"  said  Sir 
Launcelot ;  "  but  wit  you  well,  Sir  Gawaine,  I  will  never 
smite  a  felled  knight." 

And  so  Sir  Launcelot  went  into  the  city,  and  Sir 
Gawaine  was  borne  into  one  of  King  Arthur's  pavilions ; 
and  anon  there  was  leeches  brought  to  him,  which  searched 
his  wound,  and  salved  it  with  soft  ointments.  And  then 
Sir  Launcelot  said,  "Now  have  good  day,  my  lord  the 
king,  for  wit  ye  well  ye  shall  win  no  worship  at  these 
walls ;  and  if  I  would  bring  out  my  knights,  there  should 
many  a  man  die.  Therefore,  my  lord  King  Arthur,  re- 
member you  of  old  kindness,  and  howsoever  I  fare,  Jesi« 
be  your  guide  in  all  places." 


374  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

OF  THE  SORROW  THAT  KING  ARTHUR  MADE  FOR  THE  WAR,  AND  of 
ANOTHER  BATTLE  WHERE  ALSO  SIR  GAWAINE  HAD  THE  WORSE. 

ALAS,"  said  the  king,  "  that  ever  this  unhappy  war 
was  begun,  for  ever  Sir  Launcelot  forbeareth  me  in 
all  places,  and  in  likewise  my  kin,  and  that  is  seen  well 
this  day  by  my  nephew  Sir  Gawaine." 

Then  King  Arthur  fell  sick  for  sorrow  of  Sir  Gawaine, 
that  he  was  sore  hurt,  and  because  of  the  war  betwixt 
him  and  Sir  Launcelot.  So  then  they  on  King  Arthur's 
party  kept  the  siege  with  little  war  and  small  force,  and 
they  within  kept  their  walls,  and  defended  them  when 
need  was.  Thus  Sir  Gawaine  lay  sick  about  three  weeks 
in  his  tents,  with  all  manner  of  leech-craft  that  might  be 
had ;  and  as  soon  as  Sir  Gawaine  might  go  and  ride,  he 
armed  him  at  all  points,  and  started  upon  a  courser,  and 
gat  a  spear  in  his  hand,  and  so  he  came  riding  afore  the 
chief  gate  of  Benwick,  and  there  he  cried  on  high, 
"  Where  art  thou,  Sir  Launcelot  ?  come  forth,  thou  false 
traitor  knight,  and  recreant,  for  I  am  here,  Sir  Gawaine, 
will  prove  this  that  I  say  on  thee." 

All  this  language  Sir  Launcelot  heard,  and  then  he  said 
thus,  "Sir  Gawaine,  me  repenteth  of  your  foul  saying, 
that  ye  will  not  cease  of  your  language,  for  wit  ye  well, 
Sir  Gawaine,  I  know  your  might,  and  all  that  ye  may  do, 
and  well  ye  wot,  Sir  Gawaine,  ye  may  not  greatly  hurt 


me." 


"Come  down,  traitor  knight,"  said  he,  "and  make  it 
good  the  contrary  with  thy  hands ;  for  it  mishapped  me 
the  last  battle  to  be  hurt  of  thy  hands,  therefore  wit  thou 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  375 

well,  that  I  am  come  this  day  to  make  amends,  for  I  weer 
this  day  to  lay  thee  as  low  as  thou  laidest  me." 

"Defend  me,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "that  ever  I  be  so 
far  in  your  danger  as  ye  have  been  in  mine,  for  then  my 
days  were  done.  But  Sir  Gawaine,"  said  Sir  Launcelot, 
"  ye  shall  not  think  that  I  tarry  long ;  but  sithence  that 
ye  so  unknightly  call  me  of  treason,  ye  shall  have  both 
your  hands  full  of  me." 

And  then  Sir  Launcelot  armed  him  at  all  points,  and 
mounted  upon  his  horse,  and  gat  him  a  great  spear  in  his 
hand,  and  rode  out  at  the  gate.  And  both  the  hosts  were 
assembled  of  them  without  and  of  them  within,  and  stood 
in  array  full  manly ;  and  both  parties  were  charged  for  to 
hold  them  still  to  see  and  behold  the  battle  of  these  two 
noble  knights.  And  then  they  laid  their  spears  in  their 
rests,  and  they  ran  together  as  thunder.  And  Sir 
Gawaine  brake  his  spear  upon  Sir  Launcelot  in  an  hun- 
dred pieces  unto  his  hand.  And  Sir  Launcelot  smote 
him  with  a  greater  might,  that  Sir  Gawaine's  horse's  feet 
raised,  and  so  the  horse  and  he  fell  to  the  earth.  Then 
Sir  Gawaine  full  quickly  avoided  his  horse,  and  put  his 
shield  before  him,  and  eagerly  drew  his  sword,  and  bade 
Sir  Launcelot  "  alight,  traitor  knignt !  for  though  this 
mare's  son  hath  failed  me,  wit  thou  well  that  a  king's 
son  and  a  queen's  son  shall  not  fail  thee." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  avoided  his  horse,  and  dressed  his 
shield  before  him,  and  drew  his  sword.  And  so  they 
stood  together  and  gave  many  sad  strokes,  that  all  men 
on  both  parties  had  thereof  passing  great  wonder.  But 
when  Sir  Launcelot  felt  Sir  Gawaine's  might  so  marvel- 
lously increased,  he  then  withheld  his  courage  and  his  wind, 
and  kept  himself  wondrous  covert  of  his  might,  and.  under 
his  shield  he  traced  and  traversed  here  and  there  for  to 


376  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

break  Sir  Gawaine's  strokes  and  his  courage.  And  Sir 
Gawaine  enforced  him  with  all  his  might  and  power  to 
destroy  Sir  Launcelot,  for  ever  as  Sir  Gawaine's  might 
increased,  right  so  increased  his  wind  and  his  evil  will. 
Thus  Sir  Gawaine  did  great  pain  unto  Sir  Launcelot  three 
hours  continually,  that  Sir  Launcelot  had  great  pain  to 
defend  himself.  And  after  that  the  three  hours  were 
passed,  then  Sir  Launcelot  felt  verily  that  Sir  Gawaine 
was  come  to  his  own  proper  might  and  strength,  and  that 
his  great  power  was  done.  Then  Sir  Launcelot  said  unto 
Sir  Gawaine,  "  Now  have  I  well  proved  you  twice,  that  ye 
are  a  full  dangerous  knight,  and  a  wonderful  man  of  your 
might,  and  many  wonderful  deeds  have  you  done  in  your 
days  :  for  by  your  might  increasing  you  have  deceived 
many  a  full  noble  and  valiant  knight ;  and  now  I  feel  that 
ye  have  done  your  mighty  deeds.  Now  wit  you  well  I 
must  do  my  deeds." 

And  then  Sir  Launcelot  stood  near  Sir  Gawaine,  and 
then  Sir  Launcelot  doubled  his  strokes,  and  Sir  Gawaine 
defended  him  mightily.  But  nevertheless  Sir  Launcelot 
smote  such  a  stroke  upon  Sir  Gawaine's  helm,  and  upon 
the  old  wound,  that  Sir  Gawaine  sank  down  upon  his  one 
side  in  a  swoon.  And  anon  as  he  was  awake,  he  waved 
and  foined  at  Sir  Launcelot  as  he  lay,  and  said,  "  Traitor 
knight,  wit  thou  well  I  am  not  yet  slain :  come  thou  near 
me,  and  perform  this  battle  unto  the  uttermost." 

"  I  will  no  more  do  than  I  have  done,"  said  Sir  Launce- 
lot :  "  for  when  I  see  you  on  foot  I  will  do  battle  upon  you 
all  the  while  I  see  you  stand  on  your  feet ;  but  for  to  smite 
a  wounded  man  that  may  not  stand,  God  defend  me  from 
such  a  shame." 

And  then  he  turned  him  and  went  his  way  toward  the 
city,  and  Sir  Gawaine  evermore  calling  him  traitor  knight, 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  377 

ind  said,  "  Wit  thou  well,  Sir  Launcelot,  when  I  am  whole, 
I  shall  do  battle  with  thee  again ;  for  I  shall  never  leave 
thee  till  that  one  of  us  be  slain." 

Thus  as  this  siege  endured,  and  as  Sir  Gawaine  lay  sick 
near  a  month,  and  when  he  was  well  recovered  and  ready 
within  three  days  to  do  battle  again  with  Sir  Launcelot, 
right  so  came  tidings  unto  King  Arthur  from  England, 
that  made  King  Arthur  and  all  his  host  to  remove. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

HOW  SIR  MORDRKD  PRESUMED  AND  TOOK  ON   HIM  TO  BE  KlNG  OP  ENG- 
LAND, AND  WOULD  HAVE  MARRIED  THE  QUEEN. 

AS  Sir  Mordred  was  ruler  of  all  England,  he  caused 
letters  to  be  made  as  though  they  came  from  beyond 
the  sea,  and  the  letters  specified  that  King  Arthur  was 
slain  in  battle  with  Sir  Launcelot;  wherefore  Sir  Mor- 
dred made  a  parliament,  and  called  the  lords  together, 
and  there  he  made  them  to  choose  him  king.  And  so 
he  was  crowned  at  Canterbury,  and  held  a  feast  there 
fifteen  days.  And  afterward  he  drew  him  to  Winchester, 
and  there  he  took  Queen  Guenever,  and  said  plainly  that 
he  would  wed  her  which  was  his  uncle's  wife ;  and  so 
he  made  ready  for  the  feast,  and  a  day  prefixed  that 
they  should  be  wedded.  Wherefore  Queen  Guenever  was 
passing  heavy ;  but  she  durst  not  discover  her  heart,  but 
spake  fair  and  agreed  to  Sir  Mordred's  will.  Then  she 
desired  of  Sir  Mordred  for  to  go  to  London  for  to  buy  all 
manner  thing  that  belonged  unto  the  wedding ;  and  be- 
cause of  her  fair  speech,  Sir  Mordred  trusted  her  well 
enough,  and  gave  her  leave  to  go.  And  when  she  came 


378  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

to  London,  she  took  the  Tower  of  London,  and  suddenl) 
in  all  haste  possible  she  stuffed  it  with  all  manner  of  vict 
ual  and  well  filled  it  with  men,  and  so  kept  it.  Then  when 
Sir  Mordred  wist  how  he  was  beguiled,  he  was  passing 
wroth  out  of  measure.  And,  a  short  tale  for  to  make,  he 
went  and  laid  a  mighty  siege  about  the  Tower  of  London, 
and  made  many  great  assaults  thereat,  and  threw  many 
great  engines  unto  them,  and  shot  great  guns.  But  all 
might  not  prevail  Sir  Mordred,  for  Queen  Guenever  would 
never  for  fair  speech  nor  for  foul  trust  to  come  in  his 
hands  again.  And  then  came  the  bishop  of  Canterbury, 
the  which  was  a  noble  clerk  and  an  holy  man,  and  thus  he 
said  to  Sir  Mordred  :  "  Sir,  what  will  ye  do,  will  ye  first 
displease  God,  and  sithen  shame  yourself  and  all  knight- 
hood? Is  not  King  Arthur  your  uncle,  no  further  but 
your  mother's  brother?  Leave  this  opinion,  or  else  I 
shall  curse  you  with  book,  and  bell,  and  candle." 

"Do  thou  thy  worst,'1  said  Sir  Mordred,  "wit  thou  well 
I. shall  defy  thee." 

"Sir,"  said  the  bishop,  "and  wit  you  well  I  shall  not  fear 
me  to  do  that  me  ought  to  do.  Also  where  ye  noise 
where  my  lord  Arthur  is  slain,  and  that  is  not  so,  and 
therefore  ye  will  make  a  foul  work  in  this  land." 

"Peace,  thou  false  priest,"  said  Sir  Mordred,  "for,  and 
thou  chafe  me  any  more,  I  shall  make  strike  off  thy  head." 

So  the  bishop  departed,  and  did  the  curse  in  the  most 
orgulous  wise  that  might  be  done.  And  then  Sir  Mordred 
sought  the  bishop  of  Canterbury  for  to  have  slain  him. 
Then  the  bishop  fled,  and  took  part  of  his  goods  with 
him,  and  went  nigh  unto  Glastonbury,  and  there  he  was 
as  priest  hermit  in  a  chapel,  and  lived  in  poverty  and  in 
holy  prayers :  for  well  he  understood  that  mischievous 
war  was  at  hand.  Then  Sir  Mordred  sought  on  Queen 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  379 

Guenever  by  letters  and  by  fair  means  and  foul  means, 
for  to  have  her  to  come  out  of  the  tower  of  London,  but 
all  this  availed  not,  for  she  answered  him  shortly,  openly 
and  privily,  that  she  had  liever  slay  herself  than  to  be 
married  with  him.  Then  came  word  to  Sir  Mordred  that 
King  Arthur  had  raised  the  siege  from  Sir  Launcelot, 
and  that  he  was  coming  homeward  with  a  great  host,  foi 
to  be  avenged  upon  Sir  Mordred.  Wherefore  Sir  Mor- 
dred made  to  write  letters  unto  all  the  barony  of  this 
land,  and  much  people  drew  unto  him  ;  for  then  was  the 
common  voice  among  them,  that  with  King  Arthur  was 
none  other  life  but  war  and  strife,  and  with  Sir  Mordred 
was  great  joy  and  bliss.  Thus  was  King  Arthur  depraved 
and  evil  said  of,  and  many  there  were  that  King  Arthur 
had  made  up  of  nought,  and  had  given  them  lands,  might 
not  say  of  him  then  a  good  word. 

Lo,  we  all  Englishmen  see  what  a  mischief  here  was , 
for  he  that  was  the  noblest  king  and  knight  of  the  world, 
and  most  loved  the  fellowship  of  noble  knights  and  men 
of  worship,  and  by  him  they  were  all  upholden,  now  might 
not  we  Englishmen  hold  us  content  with  him.  Lo,  this 
was  the  old  custom  and  usage  of  this  land.  And  also 
men  say  that  we  of  this  land  have  not  yet  lost  nor  forgot- 
ten the  custom  and  usage.  Alas !  alas !  this  is  a  great 
default  of  us  Englishmen,  for  there  may  nothing  please 
us  no  term.  And  so  fared  the  people  at  that  time.  For 
they  were  better  pleased  with  Sir  Mordred  than  they  were 
with  King  Arthur,  and  much  people  drew  unto  Sir  Mor- 
dred, and  said  they  would  abide  with  him  for  better  and 
for  worse.  And  so  Sir  Mordred  drew  with  a  great  host 
toward  Dover,  for  there  he  heard  say  that  King  Arthur 
would  arrive.  And  the  most  part  of  all  England  held 
with  Six  Mordred,  the  people  were  so  new-fangled. 


380  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

HOW  AFTER  THAT  KlNG  ARTHUR  HAD  TIDINGS,  HE  RETURNED  AKB 
CAME  TO  DOVER,  WHERE  SlR  MORDRED  MET  HIM  TO  LET  HIS  LAND- 
ING, AND  OF  THE  DEATH  OF  SlR  GAWAINE. 

AND  so,  as  Sir  Mordred  was  at  Dover  with  his  host, 
there  came  King  Arthur  with  a  great  navy  of  ships, 
galleys,  and  carracks.  And  there  was  Sir  Mordred  ready 
awaiting  upon  his  landing,  to  let  \hinder\  his  own  [uncle] 
to  land  upon  the  land  that  he  was  king  over.  Then  there 
was  launching  of  great  boats  and  small,  and  full  of  noble 
men  of  arms,  and  there  was  much  slaughter  of  gentle 
knights,  and  many  a  full  bold  baron  was  laid  full  low  on 
both  parties.  But  King  Arthur  was  so  courageous,  that 
there  might  no  manner  of  knights  let  him  to  land,  and 
his  knights  fiercely  followed  him.  And  so  they  landed, 
maugre  Sir  Mordred  and  all  his  power,  and  put  Sir  Mor- 
dred aback,  that  he  fled  and  all  his  people.  So  when  this 
battle  was  done,  King  Arthur  let  bury  his  people  that 
were  dead,  and  then  was  the  noble  knight  Sir  Gawaine 
found  in  a  great  boat  lying  more  than  half  dead.  When 
Sir  Arthur  wist  that  Sir  Gawaine  was  laid  so  low,  he  went 
unto  him,  and  there  the  king  made  sorrow  out  of  measure, 
and  took  Sir  Gawaine  in  his  arms,  and  thrice  he  there 
swooned.  And  when  he  awaked  he  said,  "Alas,  Sir 
Gawaine,  my  sister's  son,  here  now  thou  liest,  the  man  in 
the  world  that  I  loved  most,  and  now  is  my  joy  gone: 
for  now,  my  nephew  Sir  Gawaine,  I  will  discover  me  unto 
your  person ;  in  Sir  Launcelot  and  you  I  most  had  my  joy, 
and  mine  affiance,  and  now  have  I  lost  my  joy  of  you 
both,  wherefore  all  mine  earthly  joy  is  gone  from  me." 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  381 

"  Mine  uncle  King  Arthur,"  said  Sir  Gawainc,  "  wit  you 
well,  my  death  day  is  come,  and  all  is  through  mine  own 
hastiness  and  wilfulness,  for  I  am  smitten  upon  the  old 
wound  the  which  Sir  Launcelot  gave  me,  on  the  which  I 
feel  well  I  must  die,  and  had  Sir  Launcelot  been  with  you 
as  he  was,  this  unhappy  war  had  never  begun,  and  of  ail 
this  am  I  causer,  for  Sir  Launcelot  and  his  blood  through 
their  prowess  held  all  your  cankered  enemies  in  subjec- 
tion and  danger :  and  now,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "  ye  shall 
miss  Sir  Launcelot.  But,  alas,  I  would  not  accord  with 
him,  and  therefore,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "  I  pray  you,  fair 
uncle,  that  I  may  have  paper,  pen,  and  ink,  that  I  may 
write  unto  Sir  Launcelot  a  letter  with  mine  own  hands." 

And  when  paper  and  ink  was  brought,  Sir  Gawaine 
was  set  up  weakly  by  King  Arthur,  for  he  had  been 
shriven  a  little  before ;  and  he  wrote  thus  unto  Sir  Laun- 
celot :  "  Flower  of  all  noble  knights  that  ever  I  heard  of 
or  saw  in  my  days;  I,  Sir  Gawaine,  King  Lot's  son  of 
Orkney,  sister's  son  unto  the  noble  King  Arthur,  send 
unto  thee  greeting,  and  let  thee  have  knowledge,  that  the 
tenth  day  of  May  I  was  smitten  upon  the  old  wound 
which  thou  gavest  me  before  the  city  of  Benwick,  and 
through  the  same  wound  that  thou  gavest  me  I  am  come 
unto  my  death  day,  and  I  will  that  all  the  world  wit  that 
I  Sir  Gawaine,  knight  of  the  Round  Table,  sought  my 
death,  and  not  through  thy  deserving,  but  it  was  mine 
own  seeking ;  wherefore  I  beseech  thee,  Sir  Launcelot, 
for  to  return  again  unto  this  realm  and  see  my  tomb,  and 
pray  some  prayer  more  or  less  for  my  soul.  Also,  Sir 
Launcelot,  for  all  the  love  that  ever  was  between  us, 
make  no  tarrying,  but  come  over  the  sea  in  all  the  haste 
that  thou  mayest  with  thy  noble  knights,  and  rescue  that 
noble  king  that  made  thee  knight,  that  is  my  lord  and 


382  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

uncle  King  Arthur,  for  he  is  full  straitly  bestood  \sore 
beset]  with  a  false  traitor,  which  is  my  half  brother  Sir 
Mordred,  and  he  hath  let  crown  himself  king,  and  he 
would  have  wedded  my  lady  Queen  Guenever,  and  so  had 
he  done,  if  she  had  not  put  herself  in  the  Tower  of  Lon- 
don. And  so  the  tenth  day  of  May  last  past,  my  lord 
and  uncle  King  Arthur  and  we  all  landed  upon  them  at 
Dover,  and  there  we  put  that  false  traitor  Sir  Mordred 
to  flight.  And  there  it  misfortuned  me  for  to  be  stricken 
upon  thy  stroke.  And  at  the  date  of  this  letter  was  writ- 
ten but  two  hours  and  half  before  my  death,  written  with 
mine  own  hand,  and  so  subscribed  with  part  of  my  heart's 
blood.  And  I  require  thee,  most  famous  knight  of  all  the 
world,  that  thou  wilt  see  my  tomb." 

And  then  Sir  Gawaine  wept,  and  King  Arthur  wept. 
And  the  king  made  Sir  Gawaine  to  receive  his  Saviour. 
And  then  Sir  Gawaine  prayed  the  king  to  send  for  Sir 
Launcelot,  and  to  cherish  him  above  all  other  knights. 
And  so  at  the  hour  of  noon,  Sir  Gawaine  yielded  up  the 
spirit.  And  then  the  king  let  inter  him  in  a  chapel 
within  Dover  Castle ;  and  there  yet  all  men  may  see  the 
skull  of  him,  and  the  same  wound  is  seen  that  Sir 
Launcelot  gave  him  in  battle.  Then  was  it  told  King 
Arthur  that  Sir  Mordred  had  pitched  a  new  field  upon 
Barendoune  [Barham  Down}.  And  upon  the  morn  the 
king  rode  thither  to  him,  and  there  was  a  great  battle 
betwixt  them,  and  much  people  were  slain  on  both  parties. 
But  at  the  last  King  Arthur's  party  stood  best,  and  Sir 
Mordred  and  his  party  fled  into  Canterbury. 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  383 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

How  AFTER  SIR  GAWAINE'S  GHOST  APPEARED  TO  KING  ARTHUR,  AND 

WARNED  HIM  THAT  HE  SHOULD  NOT  FIGHT  THAT  DAY. 

AND  then  the  king  let  search  all  the  towns  for  his 
knights  that  were  slain,  and  interred  them;  and 
salved  them  with  soft  salves  that  so  sore  were  wounded. 
Then  much  people  drew  unto  King  Arthur.  And  then 
they  said  that  Sir  Mordred  warred  upon  King  Arthur 
wrongfully.  And  then  King  Arthur  drew  him  with  his 
host  down  by  the  sea  side,  westward  unto  Salisbury,  and 
there  was  a  day  assigned  between  King  Arthur  and  Sir 
Mordred,  that  they  should  meet  upon  a  down  beside 
Salisbury,  and  not  far  from  the  sea  side,  and  this  day  was 
assigned  on  a  Monday  after  Trinity  Sunday,  whereof 
King  Arthur  was  passing  glad,  that  he  might  be  avenged 
upon  Sir  Mordred.  Then  Sir  Mordred  raised  much 
people  about  London,  for  they  of  Kent,  Southsex  [Sus- 
sex], and  Southery  [Surrey],  Estsex  [Essex],  and  South- 
folk  [Suffolk],  and  of  Northfolk  [Norfolk],  held  the  most 
party  with  Sir  Mordred,  and  many  a  full  noble  knight 
drew  unto  Sir  Mordred  and  to  the  king ;  but  they  that 
loved  Sir  Launcelot  drew  unto  Sir  Mordred. 

So  upon  Trinity  Sunday  at  night  King  Arthur  dreamed 
a  wonderful  dream,  and  that  was  this,  that  him  seemed 
he  sat  in  a  chair,  and  the  chair  was  fast  unto  a  wheel,  and 
thereupon  sat  King  Arthur  in  the  richest  cloth  of  gold 
that  might  be  made.  And  the  king  thought  there  was 
under  him,  far  from  him,  a  hideous  and  a  deep  black  water, 
and  therein  was  all  manner  of  serpents  and  worms,  and 
wild  beasts  foul  and  horrible ;  and  suddenly  the  king 


384  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

thought  that  the  wheel  turned  upside  down,  and  that  he 
fell  among  the  serpents  and  wild  beasts,  and  every  beast 
took  him  by  a  limb ;  and  then  the  king  cried,  as  he  lay  in 
his  bed  and  slept,  "  Help  1 " 

And  then  knights,  squires,  and  yeomen  awaked  the 
king ;  and  then  he  was  so  amazed  that  he  wist  not  where 
he  was ;  and  then  he  fell  in  a  slumbering  again,  not  sleep- 
ing nor  thoroughly  waking.  So  King  Arthur  thought 
that  there  came  Sir  Gawaine  unto  him  verily,  with  a  num- 
ber of  fair  ladies  with  him ;  and  so  when  King  Arthur  saw 
him,  he  said,  "Welcome,  my  sister's  son,  I  wend  thou 
hadst  been  dead,  and  now  I  see  thee  alive,  much  am  I 
beholden  unto  almighty  Jesu ;  oh,  fair  nephew  and  my 
sister's  son,  what  be  these  ladies  that  be  come  hither  with 
you?" 

"Sir,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "all  these  be  the  ladies  for 
whom  I  have  fought  when  I  was  man  living :  and  all  these 
are  those  that  I  did  battle  for  in  righteous  quarrel.  And 
God  hath  given  them  that  grace  at  their  great  prayer, 
because  I  did  battle  for  them,  that  they  should  bring  me 
hither  unto  you  for  to  warn  you  of  your  death  ;  for  and  ye 
fight  as  to-morrow  with  Sir  Mordred,  as  ye  both  have 
assigned,  doubt  ye  not  ye  must  be  slain,  and  the  most 
part  of  your  people  on  both  parties.  For  within  a  month 
shall  come  Sir  Launcelot,  with  all  his  noble  knights,  and 
rescue  you  worshipfully,  and  slay  Sir  Mordred  and  all  that 
ever  will  hold  with  him."  Then  Sir  Gawaine  and  all  the 
ladies  vanished. 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  385 


CHAPTER  XXX 
How  BY  MISADVENTURE  OF  AN  ADDER  THE  BATTLE  BEGAN,  WHERE  Sxi 

MORDRED  WAS  SLAIN  AND  KlNG  ARTHUR  WOUNDED  TO  DEATH. 

SO  then  were  they  condescended  that  King  Arthur  and 
Sir  Mordred  should  meet  between  both  their  hosts, 
and  everyeach  of  them  should  bring  fourteen  persons. 
And  they  came  with  this  word  unto  King  Arthur,  and 
then  said  he,  "  I  am  glad  that  this  is  done."  And  so  he 
went  into  the  fields;  and  v*nen  King  Arthur  should  de- 
part, he  warned  all  his  host  that,  and  they  saw  any  sword 
drawn,  "look  that  ye  come  on  fiercely,  and  slay  that 
traitor  Sir  Mordred,  for  I  in  no  wise  trust  him." 

In  like  wise  Sir  Mordred  did  warn  his  host  that  "  if  ye 
see  any  manner  of  sword  drawn,  look  that  ye  come  on 
fiercely,  and  so  slay  all  that  ever  standeth  before  you,  for 
in  no  wise  I  will  not  trust  for  this  treatise,  for  I  know 
well  that  my  [uncle]  will  be  avenged  upon  me." 

And  so  they  met  as  their  appointment  was,  and  were 
agreed  and  accorded  thoroughly,  and  wine  was  fet  \Jetched\ 
and  they  drank.  Right  so  came  an  adder  out  of  a  little 
heath  bush,  and  it  stung  a  knight  on  the  foot ;  and  when 
the  knight  felt  him  stung,  he  looked  down  and  saw  the 
adder,  and  then  he  drew  his  sword  to  slay  the  adder,  and 
thought  of  none  other  harm.  And  when  the  hosts  on 
both  parties  saw  that  sword  drawn,  they  blew  trumpets 
and  horns,  and  shouted  grimly.  And  so  both  hosts  dressed 
them  together,  and  King  Arthur  took  his  horse,  and  said, 
"Alas,  this  unhappy  day !"  and  so  rode  he  to  his  party. 
And  so  Sir  Mordred  did  in  like  wise ;  and  never  was  there 
seen  a  more  d^lefuller  battle  in  no  Christian  land,  for 


$86  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

there  was  but  rashing  and  riding,  foining  and  striking, 
and  many  a  grim  word  was  there  spoken  either  to  other, 
and  many  a  deadly  stroke.  And  ever  they  fought  still  till 
it  was  nigh  night,  and  by  that  time  was  there  an  hundred 
thousand  laid  dead  upon  the  down.  Then  was  King  Ar- 
thur wroth  out  of  measure,  when  he  saw  his  people  so 
slain  from  him.  Then  the  king  looked  about  him,  and 
then  was  he  ware  that  of  all  his  host,  and  of  all  his  good 
knights,  were  left  no  more  alive  but  two  knights,  that  was 
Sir  Lucan  the  Butler  and  Sir  Bedivere  his  brother,  and 
they  were  right  sore  wounded. 

"  Jesu  mercy !  "  said  King  Arthur,  "  where  are  all  my 
noble  knights  become  ?  Alas  !  that  ever  I  should  see  this 
doleful  day ;  for  now,"  said  King  Arthur,  "  I  am  come 
unto  mine  end ;  but  would  to  God  that  I  wist  where  that 
traitor  Sir  Mordred  is,  which  hath  caused  all  this  mis- 
chief." 

Then  was  King  Arthur  ware  where  Sir  Mordred  leaned 
upon  his  sword  among  a  great  heap  of  dead  men. 

"Now  give  me  my  spear,"  said  King  Arthur  to  Sir 
Lucan,  "  for  yonder  I  have  espied  the  traitor  which  hath 
wrought  all  this  woe." 

"  Sir,  let  him  be,"  said  Sir  Lucan,  "  for  he  is  unhappy  ; 
and  if  ye  pass  this  unhappy  day  ye  shall  be  right  well 
revenged  upon  him.  My  good  lord,  remember  well  your 
dream  that  ye  had  this  night,  and  what  the  spirit  of  Sir 
Gawaine  told  you  this  night ;  yet  God  of  his  great  good- 
ness hath  preserved  you  hitherto,  therefore,  for  God's 
sake,  my  lord,  leave  off  by  this,  for  blessed  be  God  ye 
have  won  the  field ;  for  here  we  be  three  on  live,  and  with 
Sir  Mordred  is  none  alive.  And  if  ye  leave  off  now,  this 
«vicked  day  of  destiny  is  done." 

"  Betide  me  death,  betide  me  life,"  said  the  king,  "  now 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  387 

I  see  him  yonder  alone  he  shall  never  escape  my  hands, 
for  at  a  better  vantage  shall  I  never  have  him." 

"  God  speed  you  well,"  said  Sir  Bedivere. 

Then  the  king  gat  his  spear  in  both  his  hands,  and  ran 
toward  Sir  Mordred,  crying,  "  Traitor,  now  is  thy  death  day 


come." 


And  when  Sir  Mordred  heard  King  Arthur,  he  ran  unto 
him  with  his  sword  drawn  in  his  hand.  And  then  King 
Arthur  smote  Sir  Mordred  under  the  shield  with  a  foin  of 
his  spear  throughout  the  body  more  than  a  fathom.  And 
when  Sir  Mordred  felt  that  he  had  his  death's  wound,  he 
thrust  himself,  with  the  might  that  he  had,  up  to  the  bur 
of  King  Arthur's  spear.  And  right  so  he  smote  [the  king] 
with  his  sword  holden  in  both  his  hands,  on  the  side  of 
the  head,  that  the  sword  pierced  the  helmet  and  the  brain 
pan.  And  therewithal  Sir  Mordred  fell  stark  dead  to  the 
earth.  And  the  noble  Arthur  fell  in  a  swoon  to  the  earth, 
and  there  he  swooned  ofttimes.  And  Sir  Lucan  the 
Butler  and  Sir  Bedivere  ofttimes  heaved  him  up,  and  so 
weakly  they  led  him  betwixt  them  both  to  a  little  chape! 
not  far  from  the  sea  side.  And  when  the  king  was  there, 
he  thought  him  well  eased.  Then  heard  they  people  cry- 
in  the  field. 

"  Now  go  thou,  Sir  Lucan,"  said  the  king,  "  and  do  me 
to  wit  what  betokens  that  noise  in  the  field." 

So  Sir  Lucan  departed,  and  he  was  grievously  wounded 
in  many  places.  And  so  as  he  went,  he  saw  and  heark- 
ened by  the  moonlight,  how  the  pillers  [pillagers']  and 
robbers  were  come  into  the  field  to  pill  and  to  rob  many  a 
full  noble  knight  of  broaches  and  beads,  of  many  a  good 
ring,  and  of  many  a  rich  jewel ;  and  who  that  were  not 
dead  all  out  \entirely\  there  they  slew  them  for  their  har- 
ness and  their  riches.  When  Sir  Lucan  understood  this 


388  The  Boy's  King  Arthur 

work,  he  came  to  the  king  as  soon  as  he  might,  and  tok 
him  all  what  he  had  heard  and  seen. 

"Therefore  by  mine  advice,"  said  Sir  Lucan,  "it  if 
best  that  we  bring  you  to  some  town." 

"  I  would  ft  were  so,"  said  the  king. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

How  KING  ARTHUR  COMMANDED  TO  CAST  HIS  SWORD  EXCALIBUR 
THE  WATER,  AND  HOW  HE  WAS  DELIVERED  TO  LADIES  IN  A  BARGE. 

BUT  I  may  not  stand.  Ah,  Sir  Launcelot,"  said  King 
Arthur,  "this  day  have  I  sore  missed  thee.  Alas, 
that  ever  I  was  against  thee,  for  now  have  I  my  death, 
whereof  Sir  Gawaine  me  warned  in  my  dream." 

Then  Sir  Lucan  took  up  the  king  the  one  part,  and 
Sir  Bedivere  the  other  part,  and  in  the  lifting,  the  king 
swooned,  and  Sir  Lucan  fell  in  a  swoon  with  the  lift,  and 
therewith  the  noble  knight's  heart  brast.  And  when  King 
Arthur  came  to  himself  again,  he  beheld  Sir  Lucan  how 
he  lay  foaming  at  the  mouth. 

"Alas,"  said  the  king,  "this  is  unto  me  a  full  heavy 
sight  to  see  this  noble  duke  so  die  for  my  sake,  for  he 
would  have  holpen  me,  that  had  more  need  of  help  than  I. 
Alas,  he  would  not  complain  him,  his  heart  was  so  set  to 
help  me.  Now  Jesu  have  mercy  upon  his  soul." 

Then  Sir  Bedivere  wept  for  the  death  of  his  brother. 

"Leave  this  mourning  and  weeping,"  said  the  king, 
"  for  all  this  will  not  avail  me :  for,  wit  thou  well,  and  I 
might  live  myself  the  death  of  Sir  Lucan  would  grieve 
me  evermore ;  but  my  time  hieth  fast,"  said  the  king. 
'*- Therefore,"  said  King  Arthur,  "take  thou  Excalibur 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  389 

my  good  sword,  and  go  with  it  to  yonder  water  side,  and 
when  thou  comest  there,  I  charge  thee  throw  my  sword 
in  that  water,  and  come  again,  and  tell  me  what  thou  shall 
see  there." 

"  My  lord,"  said  Sir  Bedivere,  "  your  command  shall  be 
done,  and  lightly  bring  you  word  again." 

And  so  Sir  Bedivere  departed;  and  by  the  way  he 
beheld  that  noble  sword  where  the  pommel  and  the  haft 
were  all  of  precious  stones,  and  then  he  said  to  himself, 
"  If  I  throw  this  rich  sword  into  the  water,  thereof  shall 
never  come  good,  but  harm  and  loss." 

And  then  Sir  Bedivere  hid  Excalibur  under  a  tree,  and 
as  soon  as  he  might  he  came  again  unto  King  Arthur, 
and  said  he  had  been  at  the  water,  and  had  thrown  the 
sword  into  the  water. 

"  What  sawest  thou  there  ? "  said  the  king. 

"Sir,"  said  he,  "I  saw  nothing  but  waves  and  wind." 

"That  is  untruly  said  of  thee,"  said  King  Arthur, 
"  therefore  go  thou  lightly  and  do  my  command,  as  thou 
art  to  me  lief  [beloved}  and  dear  ;  spare  not,  but  throw  it 
in." 

Then  Sir  Bedivere  returned  again,  and  took  the  sword 
in  his  hand ;  and  then  him  thought  it  sin  and  shame  to 
throw  away  that  noble  sword.  And  so  he  hid  the  sword, 
and  returned  again  and  told  to  the  king  that  he  had  been 
at  the  water  and  done  his  command. 

"  What  saw  ye  there  ? "  said  the  king. 

"  Sir,"  said  he,  "  I  saw  nothing  but  the  water  wap  and 
waves  wane." ' 

•'Ah,  traitor  untrue!"  said  King  Arthur,  "now  hast 
thou  betrayed  me  two  times.  Who  would  have  wend  that 
thou  that  hast  been  unto  me  so  self  [loved  like  myself] 

1  "  Water  wap  and  waves  wane :  "  water  lap  and  waves  ttt. 


390  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

and  dear,  and  thou  art  named  a  noble  knight,  and  wouldest 
betray  me  for  the  rich  sword  ?  But  now  go  again  lightly, 
for  thy  long  tarrying  putteth  me  in  great  jeopardy  of  my 
lif  2,  for  I  have  taken  cold ;  and  but  if  thou  do  as  I  com- 
mand thee,  and  if  ever  I  may  see  thee,  I  shall  slay  thee 
with  my  own  hands,  for  thou  wouldst  for  my  rich  sword 
see  me  dead." 

Then  Sir  Bedivere  departed,  and  went  to  the  sword, 
and  lightly  took  it  up,  and  went  to  the  water's  side ;  and 
there  he  bound  the  girdle  about  the  hilts,  and  then  he 
threw  the  sword  into  the  water  as  far  as  he  might ;  and 
there  came  an  arm  and  an  hand  above  the  water,  and  met 
it  and  caught  it,  and  so  shook  it  thrice  and  brandished. 

And  then  the  hand  vanished  away  with  the  sword  in 
the  water.  So  Sir  Bevidere  came  again  to  the  king,  and 
told  him  what  he  had  seen. 

"  Alas ! "  said  the  king,  "  help  me  from  hence,  for  I 
dread  me  I  have  tarried  over  long." 

Then  Sir  Bedivere  took  King  Arthur  upon  his  back, 
and  so  went  with  him  to  the  water's  side.  And  when 
they  were  at  the  water's  side,  even  fast  by  the  bank  hoved 
a  little  barge,  with  many  fair  ladies  in  it,  and  among  them 
all  was  a  queen,  and  all  they  had  black  hoods,  and  they 
wept  and  shrieked  when  they  saw  King  Arthur. 

"  Now  put  me  into  the  barge,"  said  the  king ;  and  so 
he  did  softly ;  and  there  received  him  three  queens  with 
great  mourning,  and  so  these  three  queens  [whereof  one 
was  King  Arthur's  sister  Morgan  le  Fay,  the  other  was 
the  queen  of  Northgalis,  and  the  third  was  the  queen  of 
the  waste  lands]  set  them  down,  and  in  one  of  their  laps 
King  Arthur  laid  his  head.  And  then  that  queen  said, 
"  Ah  !  dear  brother,  why  have  ye  tarried  so  long  from  me  ? 
Alas !  this  wound  on  your  head  hath  taken  overmuch 
cold." 


1 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  391 

And  so  then  they  rowed  from  the  land,  and  Sir  Bedivere 
beheld  all  those  ladies  go  from  him ;  then  Sir  Bedivere 
cried,  "  Ah !  my  lord  Arthur,  what  shall  become  of  me 
now  ye  go  from  me,  and  leave  me  here  alone  among 
mine  enemies  ? " 

"  Comfort  thhself,"  said  King  Arthur,  "  and  do  as  well 
as  thou  mayest,  for  in  me  is  no  trust  for  to  trust  in ;  for 
I  will  into  the  vale  of  Avalon  for  to  heal  me  of  my 
grievous  wound ;  and  if  thou  never  hear  more  of  me,  pray 
for  my  soul." 

But  evermore  the  queens  and  the  ladies  wept  and 
shrieked  that  it  was  pity  for  to  hear  them.  And  as  soon 
as  Sir  Bedivere  had  lost  the  sight  of  the  barge,  he  wept 
and  wailed,  and  so  took  the  forest ;  and  so  he  went  all  the 
night,  and  in  the  morning  he  was  ware  between  two  hills 
of  a  chapel  and  an  hermitage. 


CHAPTER   XXXII. 

How  SIR  BBDIVERE  FOUND  KING  ARTHUR  DEAD  ON  THE  MORROW  IN 
AN  HERMITAGE,  AND  HOW  HE  ABODE  THERE  WITH  THE  HERMIT. 

THEN  was  Sir  Bedivere  glad,  and  thither  he  went ; 
and  when  he  came  into  the  chapel,  he  saw  where 
lay  an  hermit  grovelling  upon  all  four  there  fast  by  a  tomb 
newly  graven.  When  the  hermit  saw  Sir  Bedivere,  he 
knew  him  well,  for  he  was,  but  a  little  before,  [the]  bishop 
of  Canterbury  that  Sir  Mordred  banished  away. 

"  Sir,"  said  Sir  Bedivere,  "  what  man  is  there  that  ye 
pray  so  fast  for  ? " 

"  Fair  son,"  said  the  hermit,  "  I  wot  not  verily,  but  by 
deeming,  but  this  night,  at  midnight,  here  came  a  great 


392  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

number  of  ladies,  and  brought  hither  a  dead  corpse,  and 
prayed  me  to  bury  him  ;  and  here  they  offered  an  hundred 
tapers  and  gave  me  an  hundred  besants." 

"Alas/'  said  Sir  Bedivere,  "that  was  my  lord  King 
Arthur,  that  here  lieth  buried  in  this  chapel!" 

Then  Sir  Bedivere  swooned,  and  when  he  awoke  he 
prayed  the  hermit  he  might  abide  with  him  still  there,  to 
live  with  fasting  and  prayers.  "  For  from  hence  will  I 
never  go,"  said  Sir  Bedivere,  "  by  my  will,  but  all  the  days 
of  my  life  here  to  pray  for  my  lord  Arthur." 

"Ye  are  welcome  to  me,"  said  the  hermit,  "for  I  know 
you  better  than  ye  ween  that  I  do.  Ye  are  the  bold  Bedi- 
vere, and  the  full  noble  duke  Sir  Lucan  the  Butler  was 
your  brother." 

Then  Sir  Bedivere  told  the  hermit  all  as  ye  have  heard 
before.  So  there  bode  Sir  Bedivere  with  the  hermit,  and 
there  Sir  Bedivere  put  upon  him  poor  clothes,  and  served 
the  hermit  full  lowly  in  fasting  and  in  prayers.  And  when 
the  Queen  Guenever  understood  that  King  Arthur  was 
slain,  and  all  the  noble  knights,  Sir  Mordred  and  all  the 
remnant,  then  the  queen  stole  aw^,  and  five  ladies  with 
her,  and  so  she  went  to  Almesbury,  and  there  she  let 
make  herself  a  nun  and  wore  white  clothes  and  black. 
And  great  penance  she  took  as  ever  did  sinful  lady  in  this 
land ;  and  never  creature  could  make  her  merry,  but  lived 
in  fastings,  prayers,  and  alms  deeds,  that  all  manner  of 
people  marvelled  how  virtuously  she  was  changed.  Now 
leave  we  Queen  Guenever  in  Almsbury,  that  was  a  nun  in 
white  clothes  and  black ;  and  there  she  was  abbess  and 
ruler,  as  reason  would.  And  turn  we  from  her,  and  speak 
we  of  Sir  Launcelrt  du  Lake. 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  393 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

How  WHEN  SIR  LAUNCKLOT  HEARD  OF  THE  DEATH  OP  KING  AKTHUX 
AND  OP  SIE  GAWAINE,  HE  CAMS  INTO  ENGLAND. 

AND  when  he  heard  in  his  country  that  Sir  Mordred 
was  crowned  king  in  England,  and  made  war  against 
King  Arthur,  and  would  not  let  him  to  land  in  his  own 
land ;  also  it  was  told  Sir  Launcelot  how  that  Sir  Mor- 
dred had  laid  siege  about  the  Tower  of  London,  because 
the  queen  would  not  wed  him ;  then  was  Sir  Launcelot 
wondrous  wroth. 

Then  they  made  them  ready  in  all  the  haste  that  might 
be,  with  ships  and  galleys,  with  Sir  Launcelot  and  his 
host  for  to  pass  into  England.  And  so  he  passed  over 
the  sea,  and  arrived  at  Dover,  and  there  he  landed  with 
seven  kings,  and  their  number  was  hideous  to  behold. 
Then  Sir  Launcelot  inquired  of  the  men  of  Dover  where 
King  Arthur  was  become. 

Then  the  people  told  him  how  that  he  was  slain,  with 
Sir  Mordred,  and  an  hundred  thousand  died  upon  a  day, 
and  how  Sir  Mordred  gave  King  Arthur  there  the  first 
battle  at  his  landing,  and  there  was  the  good  knight  Sfl 
Gawaine  slain ;  and  on  the  morrow  Sir  Mordred  fought 
with  King  Arthur  upon  Barendoune,  and  there  King 
Arthur  put  Sir  Mordred  to  the  worst. 

"Alas!"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "this  is  the  heaviest 
tidings  that  ever  came  to  me.  Now  fair  sirs,"  said  Sir 
Launcelot,  "  I  beseech  you  show  me  the  tomb  of  Sir  Ga- 
waine." 

And  then  certain  people  of  the  town  brought  him  to 
the  castle  of  Dover,  and  showed  him  the  tomb  of  Sir  Ga 


394  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

waine.  Then  Sir  Launcelot  kneeled  down,  and  wept,  and 
prayed  full  heartily  for  his  soul.  And  that  night  he  made 
a  dole,  and  all  they  that  would  come  had  as  much  flesh 
and  fish,  wine  and  ale,  as  they  might  eat  and  drink,  and 
every  man  and  woman  had  twelve  pence,  come  who 
would. 

Then  on  the  third  day  Sir  Launcelot  called  to  the 
kings,  dukes,  earls,  and  barons,  and  said  thus :  "  My  fair 
lords,  I  thank  you  all  of  your  coming  into  this  country 
with  me.  But  we  come  too  late,  and  that  shall  repent  me 
while  I  live.  But  sithen  it  is  so,  I  will  myself  ride  and 
seek  my  lady  Queen  Guenever,  for  as  I  hear  say  she  hath 
great  pain  and  much  disease,  and  I  heard  say  that  she  is 
fled  into  the  west  country,  therefore  ye  all  abide  me  here, 
and  but  if  I  come  within  fifteen  days,  then  take  your 
ships  and  your  fellowship,  and  depart  into  your  country." 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 
How  Si*  LAUNCELOT  DEPARTED  TO  SEEK  THE  QUEEN  GUENEVER,  AND 

HOW  HE  FOUND  HER  AT  ALMESBURY. 

THEN  came  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis,  and  said,  "  My  lord 
Sir  Launcelot,  what  think  ye  for  to  do,  now  to  ride 
in  this  realm  ?  wit  thou  well,  ye  shall  find  few  friends." 

"  Be  as  be  may,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  keep  you  still 
here,  for  I  will  forth  on  my  journey,  and  no  man  nor  child 
shall  go  with  me." 

So  it  was  no  boot  to  strive,  but  he  departed  and  rode 
westerly,  and  there  he  sought  a  seven  or  eight  days,  ana 
at  the  last  he  came  unto  a  nunnery.  And  then  was 
Queen  Guenever  ware  of  Sir  Launcelot  as  she  walked 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  395 

in  the  cloister ;  and  when  she  saw  him  there,  she  swooned 
three  times,  that  all  the  ladies  and  gentlewomen  had 
work  enough  for  to  hold  the  queen  up.  So  when  she 
might  speak,  she  called  ladies  and  gentlewomen  unto  her, 
and  said,  "  Ye  marvel,  fair  ladies,  why  I  make  this  cheer. 
Truly,"  said  she,  "it  is  for  the  sight  of  yonder  knight 
which  yonder  standeth ;  wherefore  I  pray  you  all  to  call 
him  unto  me."  And  when  Sir  Launcelot  was  brought 
unto  her,  then  she  said :  "  Sir  Launcelot,  I  require  thee 
and  beseech  thee  heartily,  for  all  the  love  that  ever  was 
between  us  two,  that  thou  never  look  me  more  in  the 
visage.  And  furthermore  I  command  thee  on  God's  be- 
half right  straitly,  that  thou  forsake  my  company,  and 
that  unto  thy  kingdom  shortly  thou  return  again,  and 
keep  well  thy  realm  from  war  and  wreck.  For  as  well  as 
I  have  loved  thee,  Sir  Launcelot,  now  mine  heart  will  not 
once  serve  me  to  see  thee.  Therefore,  Sir  Launcelot,  go 
^hou  unto  thy  realm,  and  there  take  thee  a  wife,  and  live 
with  her  in  joy  and  bliss.  And  I  beseech  you  heartily, 
pray  for  me  unto  our  Lord  God,  that  I  may  amend  my 
mis-living." 

"Now,  sweet  madam,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "would  ye 
that  I  should  now  return  again  into  my  country,  and  there 
to  wed  a  lady  ?  Nay,  madam,  wit  you  well  that  shall  I 
never  do:  but  the  same  destiny  that  ye  have  taken  you  to, 
I  will  take  me  unto,  for  to  please  Jesu,  and  ever  for  you  I 
cast  me  specially  to  pray.  And  if  I  had  found  you  now 
so  disposed,  I  had  cast  me  to  have  had  you  into  mine  own 
realm." 

[Then]  there  was  lamentation  as  they  had  been  stung 
by  spears,  and  the  ladies  bare  the  queen  to  her  chamber. 

And  Sir  Launcelot  took  his  horse  and  rode  all  that  day 
and  all  that  night  in  a  forest,  weeping.  And  at  last  he 


39<5  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

was  ware  of  a  hermitage  and  a  chapel  between  two  cliffs, 
and  then  he  heard  a  little  bell  ring  to  mass. 

[And  it  was  here  that  the  bishop  and  Sir  Bedivere  had 
served  God  together ;  and  they  knew  Sir  Launcelot,  and 
told  him  all,  and  his  heart  was  nearly  brast  for  sorrow. 
And  Sir  Launcelot  threw  abroad  his  armor,  and  was 
shriven,  and  took  the  habit  upon  him,  and  abode  at  that 
chapel. 

And  there  came  Sir  Bors,  who  had  gone  forth  for  to 
seek  Sir  Launcelot.  And  Sir  Bors  took  the  habit  upon 
him.  And  within  half  a  year  there  was  also  come]  Sir 
Galihud,  Sir  Galihodin,  Sir  Bleoberis,  Sir  Villiers,  Sir  Clar- 
rus,  and  Sir  Gahalantine.  So  these  seven  knights  abode 
there  still.  And  when  they  saw  that  Sir  Launcelot  had 
taken  him  unto  such  perfection  they  had  not  list  [desire] 
to  depart,  but  took  such  an  habit  as  he  had,  and  their 
horses  went  where  they  would. 

Thus  they  endured  in  great  penance  six  years,  and  then 
Sir  Launcelot  took  the  habit  of  priesthood,  and  twelve 
months  he  sung  the  mass.  [And  he  used]  such  absti- 
nence that  he  waxed  full  lean.  And  thus  upon  a  night 
there  came  a  vision  to  Sir  Launcelot,  and  charged  him,  in 
remission  of  his  sins,  to  haste  him  unto  Almesbury, 
"And  by  then  thou  come  there,  thou  shalt  find  Queen 
Guenever  dead :  and  therefore  take  thy  fellows  with  thee, 
and  purvey  them  of  an  horse  bier,  and  fetch  thou  the 
corpse  of  her,  and  bury  her  by  her  husband  the  noble 
King  Arthur."  So  this  vision  came  to  Launcelot  thrice 
in  one  night 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  397 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

How  SIR   LAUNCELOT  WENT  WITH  HIS  SEVEN   FELLOWS  TO  Ai 

BURY,    AND     FOUND    THERE     QUEEN     GUENEVER     DEAD,    WHOM     THXT 
BROUGHT  TO  GLASTONBURY. 

'THHEN  Sir  Launcelot  rose  up  or  day,  and  told  the 
JL     hermit. 

"  It  were  well  done,"  said  the  hermit,  "  that  ye  made 
you  ready,  and  that  you  disobey  not  the  vision." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  took  his  seven  fellows  with  him, 
and  on  foot  they  went  from  Glastonbury  to  Almesbury, 
the  which  is  little  more  than  thirty  miles.  And  thither 
they  came  within  two  days,  for  they  were  weak  and  feeble 
to  go.  And  when  Sir  Launcelot  was  come  to  Almesbury, 
within  the  nunnery,  Queen  Guenever  died  but  half  an 
hour  before. 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  saw  her  visage,  but  he  wept  not 
greatly,  but  sighed ;  and  so  he  did  all  the  observance  of 
the  mass  himself,  both  the  dirige  \dirge\  at  night  and  the 
mass  on  the  morrow. 

[And  so  with  many  holy  rites,  Queen  Guenever  was 
wrapped  thirty-fold  in  cloth  of  Rheims,  and  put  in  a 
of  lead,  and  after  in  a  coffin  of  marble.     And  when 
was  Duf  in  the  earth  Sir  Launcelot  swooned  1 


398  The  Boy  s  King  Arthur. 


CHAPTER   XXXVI. 

How  Si*   LAUNCELOT   BEGAN   TO   SICKEN,  AND   AFTER   DIED,  WH<   4 
BODY  WAS  BORNE  TO  JOYOUS  GARD  FOR  TO  BE  BURIED. 

THEN  Sir  Launcelot  never  after  eat  but  little  meat, 
nor  drank,  till  he  was  dead ;  for  then  he  sickened 
more  and  more,  and  dried  and  dwined  [dwindled]  away ; 
for  the  bishop  nor  none  of  his  fellows  might  not  make 
him  to  eat,  and  little  he  drank ;  for  evermore  day  and 
night  he  prayed,  but  sometime  he  slumbered  a  broken 
sleep,  and  ever  he  was  lying  grovelling  on  the  tomb  of 
King  Arthur  and  Queen  Guenever.  And  there  was  no 
comfort  that  the  bishop,  nor  Sir  Bors,  nor  none  of  his 
fellows  could  make  him,  it  availed  nothing. 

Oh,  ye  mighty  and  pompous  lords,  shining  in  the  glory 
transitory  of  this  unstable  life,  as  in  reigning  over  great 
realms  and  mighty  great  countries,  fortified  with  strong 
castles  and  towers,  edified  with  many  a  rich  city ;  ye  also, 
ye  fierce  and  mighty  knights,  so  valiant  in  adventurous 
deeds  of  arms ;  behold,  behold,  see  how  this  mighty  con- 
queror King  Arthur,  whom  in  his  human  life  all  the 
world  doubted  \praised\  see  also  the  noble  Queen  Guen 
ever,  which  sometime  sat  in  her  chair  adorned  with  gold, 
pearls,  and  precious  stones,  now  lie  full  low  in  obscure 
fosse  or  pit,  covered  with  clods  of  earth  and  clay ;  behold 
also  this  mighty  champion  Sir  Launcelot,  peerless  of  all 
knighthood,  see  now  how  he  lieth  grovelling  upon  the  cold 
mould,  now  being  so  feeble  and  faint  that  sometime  was 
so  terrible.  How  and  in  what  manner  ought  ye  to  be  so 
desirous  of  worldly  honor  so  dangerous  !  Therefore  me 
thinketh  this  present  book  is  right  necessary  often  to  be 


Of  the  Leath  of  Arthur.  399 

read,  for  in  it  shall  ye  3nd  the  most  gracious,  knightly, 
and  virtuous  war  of  the  most  noble  knights  of  the  world, 
whereby  they  gat  praisir  g  continually.  Also  me  seemeth, 
by  the  oft  reading  thereof,  ye  shall  greatly  desire  to  ac- 
custom yourself  in  following  of  those  gracious  knightly 
deeds,  that  is  to  say,  to  dread  God,  and  to  love  righteous- 
ness, faithfully  and  courageously  to  serve  your  sovereign 
prince ;  and  the  more  that  God  hath  given  you  the  tri- 
umphal honor,  the  meeker  ye  ought  to  be,  ever  fearing 
the  unstableness  of  this  deceitful  world.  And  so  I  pass 
ove~  and  turn  again  unto  my  matter. 

So  within  six  weeks  after  Sir  Launcelot  fell  sick,  and 
lay  in  his  bed ;  and  then  he  sent  for  the  bishop  that  there 
was  hermit,  and  all  his  true  fellows.  Then  Sir  Launcelot 
said  with  dreary  steeven  [voice],  "  Sir  bishop,  I  pray  you 
give  to  me  all  my  rights  that  longeth  to  a  Christian  man." 

"It  shall  not  need  you,"  said  the  hermit  and  all  his 
fellows,  "  it  is  but  heaviness  of  your  blood :  ye  shall  he 
well  amended  by  the  grace  of  God  to-morn." 

"  My  fair  lords,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  wit  you  well,  my 
careful  body  will  into  the  earth.  I  have  warning  more 
than  now  I  will  say,  therefore  give  me  my  rights." 

So  when  he  had  all  that  a  Christian  man  ought  to  have, 
he  prayed  the  bishop  that  his  fellows  might  bear  his  body 
unto  Joyous  Gard. 

"Howbeit,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "me  repenteth  sore, 
but  I  made  mine  avow  sometime  that  in  Joyous  Gard  I 
would  be  buried,  and  because  of  breaking  of  mine  avow, 
I  pray  you  all  lead  me  thither." 

Then  there  was  weeping  and  wringing  of  hands  among 
all  his  fellows  So  at  the  season  of  night  they  went  all 
to  their  bed%  fcr  they  lay  all  in  one  chamber.  So  after 
midnight  against  day,  the  bishop  that  was  hermit,  as  he 


4OO  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

lay  in  his  bed  asleep,  he  fell  on  a  great  laughter;  and 
therewith  the  fellowship  awoke,  and  came  unto  the 
bishop,  and  asked  him  what  he  ailed. 

"  Ah,  Jesu,  mercy,"  said  the  bishop,  "  why  did  you  awake 
me  ?  I  was  never  in  all  my  life  so  merry  and  well  at 
ease." 

"  Why,  wherefore  ? "  said  Sir  Bors. 

"  Truly,"  said  the  bishop,  "  here  was  Sir  Launcelot  with 
me,  with  more  angels  than  ever  I  saw  men  upon  one  day ; 
and  I  saw  the  angels  heave  up  Sir  Launcelot  towards 
heaven ;  and  the  gates  of  heaven  opened  against  him." 

" It  is  but  dretching  [fantasy]  of  swevens  [dreams]" 
said  Sir  Bors  ;  "  for  I  doubt  not  Sir  Launcelot  aileth 
nothing  but  good." 

"  It  may  well  be,"  said  the  bishop.  "  Go  to  his  bed,  and 
then  shall  ye  prove  the  sooth." 

So  when  Sir  Bors  and  his  fellows  came  to  his  bed,  they 
found  him  stark  dead,  and  he  lay  as  he  had  smiled,  and 
the  sweetest  savor  about  him  that  ever  they  smelled. 
Then  was  there  weeping  and  wringing  of  hands,  and  the 
greatest  dole  they  made  that  ever  made  men.  And  on 
the  morrow  the  bishop  sung  his  mass  of  requiem;  and 
after  the  bishop  and  all  those  nine  knights  put  Sir  Laun- 
celot in  the  sa*ne  horse-bier  that  Queen  Guenever  was 
laid  in  before  that  she  was  buried. 

And  so  the  bishop  and  they  all  together  went  with  the 
corpse  of  Sir  Launcelot  daily  till  they  came  unto  Joyous 
Gard,  and  ever  they  had  an  hundred  torches  burning 
about  him. 

And  so  within  fifteen  days  they  came  to  Joyous  Gard : 
and  there  they  laid  his  corpse  in  the  body  of  the  choir, 
and  sung  and  read  many  psalters  and  prayers  over  him 
and  about  him;  and  ever  his  visage  was  laid  open  and 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  401 

naked,  that  all  folk  might  behold  him,  for  such  was  the 
custom  in  those  days  that  all  men  of  worship  should  so 
lie  with  open  visage  till  that  they  were  buried.  And 
right  thus  as  they  were  at  their  service,  there  came  Sir 
Ector  de  Maris,  that  had  sought  seven  year  all  England, 
Scotland,  and  Wales,  seeking  his  brother  Sir  Launcelot. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

How  Sin  ECTOR  FOUND  SIR  LAUNCELOT  HIS  BROTHER  DEAD,  AND  HOW 

CONSTANTINE  REIGNED  NEXT  AFTER  KlNG  ARTHUR,  AND  OF  THE  END 
OF  THIS  BOOK. 

AND  when  Sir  Ector  de  Maris  heard  such  noise  and 
light  in  the  choir  of  Joyous  Gard,  he  alighted,  and 
put  his  horse  away  from  him,  and  came  into  the  choir ; 
and  there  he  saw  men  sing  and  weep.  And  all  they 
knew  Sir  Ector,  but  he  knew  not  them.  Then  went  Sir 
Bors  unto  Sir  Ector,  and  told  him  how  there  lay  his 
brother  Sir  Launcelot  dead.  And  then  Sir  Ector  threw 
his  shield,  sword,  and  helm  from  him ;  and  when  he 
beheld  Sir  Launcelot's  visage  he  fell  down  in  a  swoon. 
And  when  he  awaked  it  were  hard  any  tongue  to  tell  the 
doleful  complaints  that  he  made  for  his  brother. 

"  Ah,  Sir  Launcelot,"  he  said,  "  thou  were  head  of  all 
Christian  knights ;  and  now  I  dare  say,"  said  Sir  Ector, 
"  that  Sir  Launcelot,  there  thou  liest,  thou  were  never 
matched  of  none  earthly  knight's  hands  ;  and  thou  were 
the  courtliest  knight  that  ever  bare  shield  ;  and  thou 
were  the  truest  friend  to  thy  lover  that  ever  bestrode 
horse ;  and  thou  were  the  truest  lover,  of  a  sinful  man, 
that  ever  loved  woman ;  and  thou  were  the  kindest  man 


4O2  The  Boy's  King  Arthur. 

that  ever  struck  with  sword ;  and  thou  were  the  goodliest 
person  that  ever  came  among  press  [crowd]  of  knights ; 
and  thou  were  the  meekest  man  and  the  gentlest  that 
ever  ate  in  hall  among  ladies  ;  and  thou  were  the  sternest 
knight  to  thy  mortal  foe  that  ever  put  spear  in  the  rest." 

Then  there  was  weeping  and  dolor  out  of  measure. 

Thus  they  kept  Sir  Launcelot's  corpse  above  the  ground 
fifteen  days,  and  then  they  buried  it  with  great  devotion. 
And  then  at  leisure  they  went  all  with  the  bishop  of 
Canterbury  to  his  hermitage,  and  there  they  were  together 
more  than  a  month.  Then  Sir  Constantine,  that  was  Sir 
Cador's  son,  of  Cornwall,  was  chosen  king  of  England ; 
and  he  was  a  full  noble  knight,  and  worshipfully  he  ruled 
this  realm.  And  then  this  King  Constantine  sent  for  the 
bishop  of  Canterbury,  for  he  heard  say  where  he  was ; 
and  so  he  was  restored  unto  his  bishopric,  and  left  that 
hermitage ;  and  Sir  Bedivere  was  there  ever  still  hermit 
to  his  life's  end.  Then  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis,  Sir  Ector  de 
Maris,  Sir  Gahalantine,  Sir  Galihud,  Sir  Galihodin,  Sir 
Blamor,  Sir  Bleoberis,  Sir  Villiers  le  Valiant,  Sir  Clarrus 
of  Claremount,  all  these  knights  drew  them  to  their 
countries,  howbeit  King  Constantine  would  have  had 
them  with  him,  but  they  would  not  abide  in  this  realm ; 
and  there  they  lived  in  their  countries  as  holy  men. 

Here  is  the  end  of  the  whole  book  of  King  Arthur  and 
of  his  noble  knights  of  the  Round  Table,  that  when  they 
were  whole  together  there  was  ever  an  hundred  and  forty. 
Also,  here  is  the  end  of  the  death  of  King  Arthur.  I 
pray  you  all,  gentlemen  and  gentlewomen,  thet  read  this 
book  of  King  Arthur  and  his  knights  from  the  beginning 
to  the  ending,  pray  for  me  while  I  am  alive,  that  God  send 
me  good  deliverance. 

And  when  I  am  dead,  I  pray  you  all  pray  for  my  soul 


Of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  403 

For  this  book  was  finished  the  ninth  year  of  the  reign  of 
King  Edward  the  Fourth,  by  Sir  Thomas  Maleor  [Mal- 
ory] knight,  as  Jesu  help  me  for  his  great  might,  as  he  if 
the  servant  of  Jesu  both  day  and  night. 


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BY  LINA  AND  ADELIA  B.  BEARD 

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11  It  tells  how  to  make  serviceable  and  useful  things  of  all  kinds  out  of 
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A  Son  of  Satsuma 

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Or,  The  Totem  of  the  Bear  Illustrated. 


11  Here  are  adventures  not  to  be  overlooked  or  received  half-heartedly. 
Every  boy  will  be  eager  for  such  a  book."  —  New  York  Sun. 

With  Crockett  and  Bowie 

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"  A   dramatic   story  full   of  strange  adventure,   stirring   incidents,   and 
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Little  Lord  Fauntleroy 

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color.  Many  scenes  are  new  and  many  old  ones  are  pictured  differently, 
but  the  original  idea  of  the  different  characters  is  only  intensified  in  these 
beautiful  full-colored  representations. 

Treasure  Island 

By  Robert  Louis  Stevenson 

16  full-page  illustrations  in  color  by  N.  C.  Wyeth.    Large  square  4to.    $2.50 

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The  Arabian   Nights:    Their  Best  Known  Tales 
Edited  by  Kate  Douglas   Wiggin  and  Nora  Archibald  Smith 

Illustrated  by  Maxfield  Parrish.    8vo.    $2.50  net 

Eleven  stories.  Uniform  in  appearance  and  make-up  with  Stevenson's 
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The  Queen's  Museum  and  Other  Fanciful  Tales 

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Illustrated  by  Frederic  Richardson.     $2. SO  net 

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A  Child's  Garden  of  Verses 

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"  His  poems  of  childhood  have  gone  home,  not  only  to  the  hearts  of 
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A  Little  Princess 

By  Frances  Hodgson  Burnett 

Handsomely  illustrated  in  colors  by  Ethel  Franklin  Betts.    Royal  8vo.    $2.00 

"  Here  is  the  whole  story  of  Sara  Crewe,  nicer  than  it  was  at  first." 

— The  Outlook. 

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